The protracted Osun local government crisis explained involves a complex web of legal battles and political maneuvering, primarily between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the state government. This ongoing dispute recently escalated with the Osun State APC chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, urgently calling for the National Judicial Council (NJC) to intervene. The party alleges that the state government is deliberately instigating legal challenges to undermine duly elected local government officials, creating a volatile situation that threatens the rule of law and democratic stability within the state.
The genesis of the crisis traces back to a Court of Appeal judgment on February 10, 2025. This pivotal ruling nullified an earlier decision that had removed APC-elected chairmen and councillors across Osun State. Despite the appellate judgment never being appealed by the state government, it was allegedly ignored. The reinstated officials, in line with the court’s directive, resumed their duties on February 17, 2025, setting the stage for the subsequent confrontations.
Why is Osun LG crisis still ongoing despite clear court rulings? The APC claims the state government’s refusal to accept the Court of Appeal judgment led to coordinated attacks on the reinstated council officials on the very day they resumed. Tragically, this defiance resulted in the death of Hon. Remi Abbas, the then Chairman of Irewole Local Government. Furthermore, the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in the state was accused of collaborating with the state government to compel workers to stay away from their offices, exacerbating the administrative paralysis.
In a controversial move, the state government proceeded to conduct a local government election on February 22, 2025, based on a mere five-month notice. The APC vehemently challenged this exercise in court, and its legality remains pending. The party further alleges that the state government subsequently filed multiple suits in various courts concerning the same subject matter already determined by the Court of Appeal, a tactic described as a blatant abuse of court processes designed to prolong and complicate the Osun LG election validity vs court judgment dispute.
What is NJC intervention in Nigeria? The National Judicial Council (NJC) is a crucial federal executive body responsible for appointing, disciplining, and recommending judges to the President and state governors. Its intervention typically involves investigating petitions against judicial officers for misconduct or abuse of court processes, aiming to uphold judicial integrity and ensure the impartial administration of justice.
The complex legal saga continued with an Osun State High Court judge delivering a ruling within 48 hours on February 21, 2025, directing the state government to conduct fresh elections. This swift action was perceived by the APC as an attempt to render the appellate judgment ineffective, prompting them to file a suit to set aside the decision and directly petition the NJC. This illustrates the intricate layers of the local government election guide Nigeria often involves navigating through multiple judicial pronouncements.
The political undertones of this conflict are undeniable, pitting the ruling party against the opposition. The Osun APC vs PDP local government struggle is not merely about legal interpretations but also about control and influence at the grassroots level. NULGE also instituted a separate suit seeking recognition of PDP candidates as council officials, further highlighting the partisan divisions. Moreover, the state government allegedly procured an interim order at the Federal High Court on May 15, 2025, which was then used to restrict the release of local government funds, impacting service delivery.
Despite these maneuvers, the Court of Appeal on June 13, 2025, reaffirmed its February 19, 2025 judgment, stating that the reinstatement of APC chairmen and councillors remained valid. A Federal High Court suit filed by the state government in Abuja was also struck out on October 29, 2025. This raised hopes that the dispute had ended, only for the government to allegedly obtain further interim orders from the Oyo State High Court over the same issue, keeping the Osun state politics latest news in constant flux.
The Supreme Court, the highest judicial authority, definitively weighed in on December 5, 2025. It struck out the state government’s suit on the matter, affirming that the Court of Appeal judgment reinstating the APC officials remained binding. The apex court explicitly stated that the state government had no legal basis to rely on decisions in cases to which it was not a party. This Supreme Court judgment effectively nullified the February 22, 2025 local government election and settled claims regarding the lawful occupants of council offices in the state, yet the NJC Nigeria news today continues to highlight calls for intervention due to alleged defiance.
Lawal warned that despite the apex court ruling, the state government had continued to file new cases in lower courts, a development he described as threatening the rule of law and judicial consistency. He clarified that the reinstated chairmen and councillors had not sought to extend their tenure but only judicial interpretation on its duration under existing Osun State laws. As we look towards the Osun LG crisis update 2026, the APC chairman accused the state government of misleading the public and federal authorities through a media war, including allegations of withheld local government funds and selective interpretations of court judgments.
In light of these persistent challenges, the APC’s call for the National Judicial Council to act swiftly on petitions submitted against judges involved in the matter is more critical than ever. Timely action from the NJC would not only strengthen public confidence in the judiciary but also discourage any future resort to violence and ensure the integrity of democratic processes. This ongoing saga underscores the need for clarity and adherence to Nigeria local government laws 2026 guide to prevent similar crises from undermining governance.
The Osun State local government crisis serves as a stark reminder of the importance of respecting judicial pronouncements and upholding the rule of law. The continuous legal battles, despite definitive judgments from the highest courts, highlight systemic challenges within the political and judicial landscape. Ultimately, a swift and decisive intervention by the NJC is crucial to bring finality and stability to the Osun local government crisis explained within the context of democratic governance.
