VOTING commenced in the Osun State local government election on Saturday morning as scheduled despite prior controversy.
The exercise commenced in some local governments as early as 8am, including Ede North Local Government Area where Governor Ademola Adeleke voted.
The governor after casting his vote, described the exercise as peaceful, calling on the people of the state to come out and vote peacefully.
Voters were seen casting their votes in some of the polling units, as the exercise moved on seamlessly.
The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi and the Nigeria Police Force had called for the to suspension of the exercise.
While the AGF hinged his call on a controversial Court of Appeal judgement which allegedly reinstated the earlier sacked local government chairmen and councillors, the police cited security threat.
According to the justice minister, the Court of Appeal, Akure division, on February 10, 2025, nullified the judgement of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, delivered on November 25, 2022.
The AGF said the verdict of the appellate court implied that the All Progressives Congress (APC) local council chairmen formerly sacked by the lower court have been restored.
On its part, the Police said it received credible intelligence indicating a likelihood of violence and significant security threats should the planned elections proceed.
In a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police explained that reports gathered from joint intelligence gathering revealed that various groups, including political elements and other interested parties, are mobilising to instigate unrest, disrupt public peace and undermine the democratic order.
However, the Osun State government insisted on going on with the election, saying that it does not want to disobey a court order which directed that the elections be held.
The Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, in a statement said the government will not go against the rule of law.
“Instead of the police to obey court order, the service is regrettably pursuing its partisan line by actively working against rule of law as espoused by today’s court ruling.
“If the police choses to disobey court orders, the Osun state government will not go against rule of law, hence the decision of the state government to support the state electoral commission to conduct a credible free and fair elections tomorrow.
“We thank the police for their advice. We respectfully turned down the request while we urge Osun voters to peacefully exercise their voting rights on Saturday,” the statement read in part.
An Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesa, Presided over by Justice A.A Aderibigbe had earlier ordered the Osun State Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to conduct elections to fill the vacant positions of local government chairmen and councilors across the 30 local governments in the state.
Meanwhile, the main opposition party, the APC has backed out of the election.
Our reporter who went around the state capital, Oshogbo on Saturday morning, observed that city was calm, commercial activities were absent and a few residents were out to get some things done before the commencement of the election. Some police officers were seen on the roads.