Osun LG Election: PDP Asks AGF Fagbemi to Enforce Court Judgments Recognizing PDP Osun LG Chairmen

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

The PDP officials, who were elected on February 22, 2025, and sworn in the following day, remain locked out of their offices as sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) officials continue to occupy local council secretariats, allegedly backed by federal support and a controversial directive from the AGF issued on March 26, 2025.

In a petition dated June 23, leading constitutional lawyer Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN), writing on behalf of the 30 PDP chairmen and councilors, urged the AGF to implement rulings by both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal that upheld the PDP’s election victory and invalidated the tenure of the APC officials.

Court of Appeal Verdict

The Court of Appeal in Akure, in a judgment delivered on June 13, 2025, upheld the legality of the PDP-led elections conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), dismissing the APC’s appeal and affirming the PDP’s victory.

“The election conducted on February 22, 2025, was lawful, and the 30 PDP Chairmen and Councilors were validly elected,” the court ruled, referencing the original case heard at the Federal High Court in Osogbo (Suit No.: FHC/OS/CS/103/2022).

Allegations of Federal Bias and Abuse of Power

The petition strongly criticized the AGF’s earlier directive, which recognized the ousted APC officials, accusing the directive of enabling continued illegality by allowing the APC chairmen access to federal allocations through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The petitioners argue that the refusal to enforce judicial decisions undermines the rule of law and emboldens political impunity.

Petition Demands

The petition, consisting of 17 key requests, called on the AGF to:

1. Enforce the judgment in Appeal No: CA/AK/15/2025 and rescind the March 26 directive that recognized the APC chairmen.

2. Affirm the legitimacy of the 30 PDP Chairmen and Councilors.

3. Instruct the Minister of Finance, CBN Governor, and other financial authorities to remit all federal allocations to the duly elected PDP councils.

4. Order security agencies to vacate the local government secretariats currently occupied in support of the sacked APC officials.

5. Provide protection for the PDP officials to resume their constitutional duties.

The petitioners emphasized that continued occupation by the APC chairmen poses a risk to peace, order, and democratic integrity in Osun State.

“AGF Must Uphold Rule of Law”

Reminding the AGF of his constitutional role, Ozekhome wrote:

“Your office remains the symbolic guardian of the rule of law in Nigeria. It must act impartially, not in partisan favour of the ruling APC.”

The petition concluded with an appeal to the AGF to act immediately, stating that enforcement of court rulings is essential for good governance, legal certainty, and the preservation of Nigeria’s democratic values.