The Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister Prince Lateef Fagbemi has called for the suspension of the Osun State Local Government elections that are set for this Saturday, and the Osun State Government has responded.
Fagbemi had requested that Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke immediately suspend the Local Government election process, as was previously mentioned.
The AGF said in a statement released on Thursday that the law’s stance on the situation that is causing conflict between the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) was clear.
According to Fagbemi, the court had overturned the directive the governor used to remove the chairman of the local governments chosen by the administration.
However, in a statement released late Thursday evening, Nurudeen Kareem, Special Adviser to Osun Governor on Legal Matters, said that the ruling dismissing the former LG chairmen is still in effect, enforceable, and binding until it is reversed by a higher court with the necessary authority.
In the matter of WADA v. BELLO (2016) 17 NWLR PT 1542 433, he urged the AGF to clarify a Supreme Court ruling that states that all courts, whether they are higher or lower in the hierarchy of courts, must follow judgments.
“We are grateful to the Honorable Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, for his insightful comments on the ruling in the PDP versus APC case pertaining to the 2022 Osun local government election,” Kareem stated.
Given the Federal High Court’s ruling in FHC/OS/CS/103/2022, which was later upheld by the Court of Appeal on January 13, 2025, we feel it is imperative to emphasize the APP v. APC case’s continued significance, even though we appreciate the AGF’s position on the PDP’s complaint.
Until it is overturned by a higher court with the proper authority, we firmly believe that the Federal High Court’s November 30, 2022, ruling in FHC/OS/CS/103/2022 is still in effect, enforceable, and binding. This idea is well-established in legal precedents, such as the Supreme Court’s ruling in WADA v. BELLO (2016) 17 NWLR PT 1542 433, which upholds the requirement that all courts, whether they are higher or lower in the hierarchy of courts, follow rulings.
Read Also: Tinubu to IBB: “I Wouldn’t Be in Politics Without You”
Given the importance of this ruling for maintaining the integrity of our electoral procedures, we humbly request that the AGF clarify this issue. His well-informed view is eagerly awaited by the people of Osun and throughout Nigeria, as we think it will help us better comprehend the legal environment surrounding these elections.
“Thank you for giving this urgent matter your attention.”
