SaharaReporters reports that the PDP officials were elected on February 22, 2025, and sworn in on February 23, 2025.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has been urged to enforce court judgments affirming the legitimacy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Local Government Chairmen and Councilors in Osun State. 

SaharaReporters reports that the PDP officials were elected on February 22, 2025, and sworn in on February 23, 2025.

In a petition addressed to the AGF, dated June 23rd by Prof Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Solicitors to the 30 PDP Local Government Chairmen/Councilors, made available to SaharaReporters, argued that the judgments of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal have settled the matter, and it is imperative for the AGF to give effect to these decisions.

The petitioners claimed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) officials, who were sacked by the Federal High Court, are still occupying the Local Government Council secretariats, using federal might and the AGF's earlier directive to justify their actions.

 "The Court of Appeal, Akure Judicial Division, in a unanimous decision on June 13, 2025, dismissed the APC's appeal and recognized the PDP's victory in the local government elections," the petition stated.

The Court of Appeal held that the election conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) on February 22, 2025, was in compliance with the law and that the 30 PDP Local Government Chairmen/Councilors were validly elected. 

"The parties locked horns before the Federal High Court, Osogbo in Suit No.: FHC/OS/CS/103/2022 which was an action in respect of election into Local Government Councils in Osun State," the Court of Appeal noted.

The petitioners are praying the AGF to give effect to the decision of the Court of Appeal, refrain from endorsing any contrary position, rescind or withdraw the directive dated March 26, 2025, affirm the legitimacy of the current PDP Local Government Chairmen/Councilors, and direct the appropriate Federal Government authorities to remit all arrears and current federal allocations due to the 30 Local Government Councils of Osun State to the validly constituted PDP Chairmen/Councilors.

The petitioners argued that the AGF's failure to enforce the court judgments would amount to an affront on the rule of law and the democratic process. 

"A void act confers no legal right. When an act is void, it is void for all times and is not required to be set aside," they cited from relevant case law.

Part of the 17 paragraphs petition reads: "Having regard to the above factual situation and correct the law, we respectfully urge you to use your good offices urgently:

"i. Give effect to the decision of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No: CA/AK/15/2025: ALLIED PEOPLE MOVEMENT & 2 ORS V. ACTION PEOPLES PARTY (APP) & 4 ORS, delivered on 13th June, 2025; and

"ii. Refrain from endorsing any contrary position being pursued by the sacked APC Chairmen/Councilors which seeks to undermine and disobey the said ruling and other subsisting judgements;

"iii. Rescind or withdraw your directive dated 26th March, 2025, which erroneously recognised the APC chairmen. iv. Rescind or withdraw your directive dated 26th March, 2025, which erroneously recognized the sacked APC Chairmen/Councilors and appeared to empower the CBN Governor to disobey court judgements and orders by paying allocation to the 30 illegal APC Chairmen.

"v. Affirm the legitimacy of the current PDP Local Government Chairmen/Councilors duly constituted following the election constituted by OSSIEC on 22nd February, 2025; 

"vi. Direct the appropriate Federal Government authorities including the Minister of Finance, Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, to remit all arrears and current federal allocations due to the 30 Local Government Councils of Osun State to the validly constituted PDP Chairmen/Councilors of the Local Governments.

"vii. Direct the appropriate Federal Government agents such as the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Chief of Army Staff, the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Police Command, the Osun State Director of the DSS, the Commandant of NSCDC, Osun State, etc, to immediately withdraw from the 30 Local Government Council Secretariats which they have illegally occupied since February, 2025, in aid of the APC Local Government Chairmen/Councilors in clear breach of the law and peace of Osun State.

"viii. Direct the above security agents to provide maximum security and protection for the PDP Chairmen/Councilors who were validly elected on 22nd February, 2025, to enable them carry out their legitimate and constitutionally vested duties. This has become urgently imperative to prevent a breach of the peace, law and order; and also to halt the ongoing undue harassment, intimidation and possible physical harm being brought to bear on the legitimate PDP Chairmen/Councilors by the sacked APC Chairmen/Councilors and their agents."

The petitioners, however, reminded the AGF that his office remains the symbolic guardian of the rule of law in Nigeria. 

"It ought to act dispassionately, shunning partisanship in favour of the ruling APC government. In the interest of our hard-earned constitutional democracy, good governance, legal certainty and democratic integrity, we respectfully urge you to ensure that the judgments of courts in this dispute are fully and faithfully complied with and duly enforced. Sir, kindly help to bring about peace in Osun State through your immediate intervention."