Court affirms APC led LG Chairmen reinstatement in Osun

By Ismail Azeez

The ruling Accord Party in Osun State, under the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke has suffered a significant legal setback on Tuesday following a judgment by the Federal High Court.

The court dismissed a suit filed against the reinstated council chairmen and councillors, acknowledging a February 10th Court of Appeal judgment that reinstated those elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Action Peoples Party (APP) had approached the Federal High Court in March 2025, seeking to commit the chairmen and councillors to prison for resuming office on October 17, 2025.

However, while delivering judgment in Suit FHC/OS/CS/103/2022, Honorable Justice Demi-Ajayi held that the November 2022 judgment sacking the officials was meritoriously set aside in February 2025. Consequently, the court ruled that the officials could not be held in contempt for resuming their duties.

The court further noted that while an appeal regarding the APP judgment was dismissed in June 2025, the Court of Appeal made no specific pronouncement beyond dismissing a motion to relist.

Evaluating the superiority of the conflicting judgments, the court determined that the 2022 local government elections remained valid under the appellate decision.

Justice Demi-Ajayi also upheld preliminary objections regarding defective service of process.

The court found that only the APC had been effectively served, while no valid service was effected on the individual chairmen and councillors.

As a result, the names of the 2nd through 32nd respondents were struck out. Ultimately, the court dismissed the contempt charge against the APC for lack of merit, ordering all parties to bear their own costs.