BREAKING; You can’t conduct any lawful fresh LG election – FG dares Gov Adeleke

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) has advised the Osun State Government not to proceed with its planned Local Government election scheduled for February 22.

Fagbemi argued that “any such election, that may be held, will not only be invalid since the term of office of the elected officials just restored by the judgement of the Court of Appeal will still be running until October 2025, it will also amount to an egregious breach of the Constitution which Governor Adeleke has sworn to uphold.”

The AGF, in a statement on Thursday night, appealed “to His Excellency, Governor Adeleke to toe the path of law in this matter and not instigate unnecessary violence in Osun State.”

Fagbemi added: “Nobody benefits from violence. It is, therefore, of utmost importance for Governor Adeleke to advice Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to shelve the idea of proceeding with any Local Government Election now.”

Part of the statement, titled: On Osun State Local Government crisis, reads: “My attention has been drawn to the public outcry of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke concerning the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Akure division delivered on 10th day of February, 2025 in Appeal No CA/AK/272/2022 which nullified and set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, Osun State, delivered on 25th day of November, 2022.

“It has become necessary to issue this public notice to remove doubts, fears and uncertainties created by misrepresentations and disinformation concerning the legal effect of the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

” Putting matters in proper context, the event that led to the two judgments was that during the currency of the term of the former Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, election was held into all the local governments of Osun State and winners were sworn in.

“However, a few days before the swearing in of Governor Adeleke, the Federal High Court Osogbo delivered the judgment referred to above in which it nullified the election of the Local Government elected officials and removed them from office.

“As soon as Governor Adeleke assumed office a few days after the judgment, he issued executive order for the physical removal of the elected officials and replaced them with caretaker appointees.

” Meanwhile, the APC that was a party in the Federal High Court case referred to above appealed against the judgment. The Court of Appeal eventually, on 10th day of February, 2025 delivered its judgement in the appeal filed by APC against the judgement of the Federal High Court.

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“The Court of Appeal not only allowed the appeal, it also held affirmatively that the suit that resulted in the judgment of the Federal High Court referred to above was incompetent and consequently made an order striking out the suit.

“Accordingly, the judgment of the Court of Appeal had by implication effectively restored the elected Local Government officials removed by the Federal High Court, back to their offices.

“According to the facts made available to my office, it was the attempt by the said elected officials to resume back in their positions that was resisted by some disgruntled elements which led to the crisis.

“His Excellency, the Governor of Osun State, Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke is no doubt aware of this scenario and ought, as a leader to have called the disgruntled elements to order in accordance with his Oath of Office to maintain law and order in Osun State.

“Notwithstanding the judgment of the Court of Appeal referenced above, which in effect means that the term of office of the elected officials has regained currency and will naturally run out in October, 2025, His Excellency has insisted that a new Local Government election shall be held on Saturday, 22nd February, 2025.

“Again, the recent judgement of the Supreme Court which has validated and entrenched Local Government autonomy also strengthens the obligation on Governor Adeleke to ensure smooth, non-violent transition from one elected officials to another in accordance with the statutorily prescribed 3 year tenure.

“For avoidance of doubt, when proceedings and decisions of court are declared a nullity for lack of jurisdiction, it means they do not exist and have no effect whatsoever.

“It is my opinion that the Court of Appeal Judgment of 10th February, 2025 which is superior to any High Court decision, defines the legal position in this case and represents the only legally enforceable judgment and has the legal effect of returning the initially sacked Local Government democratically elected officials of Osun State.

“The constitutional order which existed before the dissolution must be restored immediately since the judgment upon which the Governor acted to dissolve the democratically elected government has been declared a nullity for lack of jurisdiction of the Court to have heard the case and made those orders.

“My office will be happy to be available for any dialogue His Excellency may require on this matter in the interest of the peace of Osun State in particular and Nigeria in general.”

President Tinubu signs bills establishing Fed varsities for 2 States reveals locations

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday assented to two bills establishing the Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies, Iragbiji, Osun, and the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin Ekiti, Ekiti.

The President said these specialised institutions would address the educational needs of the populace while driving research and innovation and contributing to the country’s overall economic growth and development.

Tinubu said the institutions would serve as training grounds for developing agriculture, science and technology professionals and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global economy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, his spokesman, said in a statement.

“According to the National Universities Commission (NUC), Nigeria currently has 63 approved federal universities, 63 state universities and 149 private universities.

“On Feb. 3, the President approved establishing the Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET) in Ogoni town of Tai, Rivers.

“The President also consented to the Federal Government takeover of a forfeited private university in Southern Kaduna and its transformation into a federal university.” (NAN)

MKO Abiola won controversial June 12 election – IBB finally confirms

In his newly released memoir, ‘A Journey in Service’, former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) has confirmed that the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola won the controversial June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Babangida’s candid admission came during the book’s launch in Abuja on Thursday, as his autobiography, reviewed by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, shed new light on the events surrounding the historic poll.

According to the account, Babangida, who had initially cast doubt on Abiola’s victory, now acknowledges that Abiola, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, secured both the highest number of votes and the necessary geographical spread to emerge as the rightful president.

Osinbajo said: “He also answers the question whether Abiola actually won the June 12 election, and I quote him, ‘although I am on record to have stated after the election that Abiola may not have won the election, upon deeper reflection and a closer examination of all available facts, particularly the detailed election results, which are published as an appendix to this book, there was no doubt that MKO Abiola won the June 12 elections.”

In his memoir, Babangida reflected on the events of the June 12 election, admitting that, given the opportunity, he would have handled the situation differently. The former Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, quoted Babangida as expressing this regret during the book’s presentation.

Babangida also expressed satisfaction that former President Muhammadu Buhari posthumously recognized MKO Abiola’s rightful victory by conferring upon him the nation’s highest honor, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).

Abiola, representing the Social Democratic Party (SDP), faced off against Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC) in what is widely considered Nigeria’s freest election.

However, as results began to pour in, the military government abruptly intervened, instructing the National Electoral Commission (NEC), led by Professor Humphrey Nwosu, to halt the announcement of the election results.