The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Osun State, Abiodun Idowu, has explained why reinstated local government council executives have continued in office despite the statutory expiration of their tenure on October 22, 2025.
Speaking on Sunday, Idowu said the continued stay of the officials was based on ongoing court processes, noting that the matter is currently before the Federal High Court in Osogbo for legal clarification.
He explained that the affected executives were elected during the local government elections held in October 2022 across the state, but their tenure was disrupted following a Federal High Court judgment that removed them from office before the end of their term.
After the ruling, Governor Ademola Adeleke dissolved the councils through an executive order issued in November, citing the court judgment as justification.
According to Idowu, the situation changed after the Court of Appeal delivered a judgment on February 10, 2025, which reinstated the elected executives and allowed them to resume duties at their respective councils.
He stressed that the appellate court’s ruling remains valid and has not been challenged at the Supreme Court.
Explaining the current legal position, Idowu said the interruption of their tenure informed their return to court, adding that the executives were not seeking an extension of their term.
“Our tenure was interrupted for more than two years, and that is why we are seeking judicial determination. We are not asking for tenure elongation; what we want is tenure determination,” he said.
He clarified that the court is being asked to decide whether their tenure ended in October 2025 or should run from February 10, 2025, when they resumed office.
Idowu criticised the manner of their removal, saying the governor relied on an executive order instead of allowing them to exhaust all legal options.
He also referenced past political events, noting that the governor was allowed to pursue legal remedies up to the Supreme Court after his removal by a tribunal, while the council executives were denied the same opportunity.
On the pending case, Idowu said the matter is still before the Federal High Court in Osogbo and is scheduled for hearing on February 3, 2026, after which the lawful end of their tenure would be determined.
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