A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has sacked the All Progressives Congress (APC) local government chairmen and councillors elected in October 2022, ruling that their three-year tenure ended in October 2025.
Justice Adefunmilola A. Demi-Ajayi delivered the judgment on Monday in a suit filed by the affected council officials seeking elongation of their tenure.
The court held that the tenure of the elected officers had expired and dismissed the suit, noting that the claimants lacked legal grounds to institute the case in the first place.
The affected officials, who were returned to office in February 2025 following a court-related process, had approached the court to determine the actual start of their tenure after they were initially prevented from assuming office in 2022.
Counsel to the sacked chairmen and councillors, Muhydeen Adeoye, confirmed that an appeal has been filed at the Court of Appeal, Akure Division.
Six grounds of appeal were raised, including claims that the lower court determined issues different from those placed before it.
A motion has also been filed seeking to restrain any disturbance of the officials pending the hearing of the appeal.
Reacting to the judgment, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke welcomed the ruling, describing it as consistent with constitutional provisions.
He directed the police to withdraw security cover from the affected chairmen and stop supporting their continued occupation of council secretariats.
The Osun APC, however, argued that the judgment also effectively nullifies the February 2025 local government elections conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC).
The party urged the public to disregard what it called misleading information from the state government.
This development has intensified the political tension in Osun State over control of the local government councils.
