Osogbo Court Defers Hearing on APC Chairmen, Councillors’ Tenure Case
The Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, on Monday adjourned hearing in a suit filed by reinstated All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen and councillors, who are seeking judicial determination of the subsistence and duration of their tenure in office.
The dispute centres on the validity of local government elections conducted by the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke on February 22, 2025. The matter has now been adjourned to November 27, 2025, for substantive hearing.
The suit, marked FHC/OS/CS/147/2025, was instituted by Onibonokuta Saheed and seven others against the Attorney-General of the Federation and six additional defendants.
The claimants are urging the court to clarify whether their constitutionally prescribed three-year tenure commenced in February 2025, following their reinstatement.
They are also asking the court to determine whether the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) acted lawfully in conducting fresh local government elections on February 22, 2025, while their tenure was allegedly still running.
The tenure dispute has remained a contentious issue in Osun State politics since the Court of Appeal, on February 10, 2025, reinstated the APC-elected chairmen and councillors, sparking public debate over the legality of subsequent elections.
At Monday’s proceedings, counsel for the claimants, Muhydeen Adeoye, filed a motion seeking an interim order restraining the defendants from interfering with his clients’ official functions pending the determination of the substantive suit. He argued that his clients were being obstructed despite a subsisting appellate court pronouncement affirming their reinstatement.
In response, counsel for the 3rd and 4th defendants, Barrister F.K. Labo-Popoola, counsel for the 5th defendant, Rachael Ojomi, and counsel for the 6th defendant, Barrister J.A. Ayanyemi, contended that they were still within the statutory timeframe to file their responses to the originating summons. They urged the court to grant them adequate time to complete their processes.
Presiding judge, Honourable Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi, observed that service of court processes had not been fully effected on all parties. She therefore directed that proper service be completed before the next sitting, stressing the need to uphold fair hearing and due process. The matter was consequently adjourned to November 27, 2025, for hearing.
