The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State have exchanged sharp words over the recent local government elections in Osun State. The APC has criticized the polls, accusing Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State of unlawfully constituting council heads and conducting an illegal election. In a statement issued on February 22, 2025, the APC called on the Federal Government to withhold local government allocations to Osun State due to what they described as Governor Adeleke’s disregard for the rule of law. The party’s spokesperson, Felix Morka, claimed that the elections were unconstitutional and went against a ruling by the Court of Appeal, which had reinstated sacked local government officials. The APC further accused Adeleke of illegally appointing caretaker committees in violation of the Constitution, calling the election a waste of public funds and a threat to peace in the state.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, in response, cautioned the APC against creating chaos in Osun, warning them not to turn the state into a “wild west.” Speaking at the swearing-in of newly elected local government chairmen in Osogbo, Makinde stressed the importance of respecting the rule of law and the judiciary. He also advised against resorting to self-help and emphasized that any legal issues should be resolved through proper judicial processes.

Governor Adeleke, for his part, defended the elections, stating that the legal procedures had been followed, and affirmed the legitimacy of the newly elected council officials. He urged the new chairmen and councillors to focus on delivering good governance, while also directing them to refrain from occupying the local government secretariats until the judiciary resolved the matter of the previous officials’ positions.