Osun APC Chairmen Seek Court Order for Extension of Time

The Osun State local government chairmen elected in October 2022 have approached the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, seeking an order for an extension of their tenure until 2028.

The claimants Saheed Onibonokuta and seven other local government chairmen filed the suit on behalf of themselves and other chairmen and councillors elected during the October 15, 2022 polls. They are seeking protection from the court to prevent their removal from office in October 2025.

In the suit filed and dated September 12, 2025, and signed by Muhydeen Adeoye, the claimants joined the Attorney General of the Federation, the Inspector General of Police, the Governor of Osun State, the Osun State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Osun State House of Assembly, and the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) as defendants.

The chairmen argue that they were not allowed to properly begin their tenure when they were sworn in on October 15, 2022, and therefore their tenure should not be counted from that date.

They are seeking a declaration that, based on Sections 6(6)(b) and 7 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Section 91 of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2022, and Sections 3(2), 9, 10, and 28 of the Local Government (Administration) Law, Cap. 72A, Laws of Osun State, the sixth defendant (OSSIEC) cannot legally issue a notice of polls, conduct elections, or swear in new council members while their tenure is still valid.

The claimants are also seeking the following declarations and orders from the court:

• A declaration that all actions taken by the third to sixth defendants since February 22, 2025 particularly in August 2025 to install other individuals as council members during the subsistence of their tenure are illegal, unconstitutional, and void.
• A declaration that the opinion issued by the first defendant (Attorney General of the Federation) to curtail their tenure ending in October 2025 is beyond his legal powers and is null and void to the extent that it cuts their tenure short.
• An order directing the first and second defendants (Attorney General of the Federation and Inspector General of Police) to provide security to the claimants in order to protect and enforce their legally guaranteed tenure, which they claim should end on February 19, 2028.
• An order restraining the third to sixth defendants from taking any steps to remove or replace them from office in October 2025 or at any time before February 19, 2028, when they believe their tenure should legally expire.
  
  Source: The Sun