Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has welcomed the judgment of the Federal High Court in Osogbo dismissing an application seeking tenure elongation for local government chairmen elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the ruling as a validation of constitutional provisions and existing judicial precedents.
Addressing journalists during a press briefing on Monday, Governor Adeleke said the court's decision reaffirmed the position of the Constitution and previous Supreme Court rulings that tenure elongation for elected officials is unconstitutional.
The governor congratulated what he described as the authentic elected local government chairmen and stated that the judgment confirmed that the APC-backed "Yes/No" chairmen lacked the legal basis to institute the suit in the first place.
According to Adeleke, the ruling makes it clear that the tenure of the affected chairmen, if valid at all, expired in October 2025.
Following the judgment, the governor called on the Inspector General of Police to direct the Osun State Police Command to withdraw support for the APC chairmen currently occupying council secretariats across the state.
He specifically urged the Commissioner of Police to discontinue security protection for what he termed the illegal occupation of local government secretariats by the affected officials.
Governor Adeleke also accused the United Bank for Africa (UBA) of collaborating with the sacked chairmen over local government funds. He recalled that the bank had previously sworn to an affidavit stating that all disputed local government funds remained intact.
The governor demanded that the bank ensure that all local government funds are secured and fully accounted for, while also allowing legally recognized signatories to operate the affected accounts.
He noted that the funds are urgently needed to settle workers' salaries, pensions and other entitlements.
Adeleke further called on law enforcement agencies to support the immediate restoration of the elected local government chairmen, insisting that such action aligns with constitutional provisions and the rule of law.
The governor also reacted to a separate judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja concerning the deregistration of some political parties, describing the ruling as an affront to the Court of Appeal and a threat to the integrity of the electoral process.
He argued that the appellate court had already stayed proceedings in the matter until October and expressed surprise that the lower court proceeded to deliver judgment on the issue.
According to him, legal steps have already been initiated to challenge the ruling.
Assuring supporters ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, Adeleke maintained that the Accord Party would remain on the ballot and expressed confidence in securing victory at the polls.
He urged residents of the state to remain calm and not be distracted by ongoing legal and political disputes, insisting that attempts by the opposition APC to derail his re-election bid had failed.
The governor also announced that his campaign flag-off rally would hold on Tuesday, calling on supporters to turn out in large numbers.
"We will not be distracted. We remain focused on winning. By God's grace and the people's support, continuity shall prevail come August 15," Adeleke said.
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