APC Chairmen Drag Federal and Osun Governments to Court Seeking Tenure Extension

Strategic Insights -

The All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen elected in October 2022 are seeking an extension of their tenure beyond its scheduled expiration in October 2025. They claim that their tenure should commence only from February 2025, when they were inaugurated, not from October 2022 when they were first elected but denied office. The chairmen argue that the conduct of fresh elections in February 2025 was unlawful and an attempt to deprive them of their constitutional right to a full term in office.

Key Takeaways:

  • The APC chairmen are seeking an extension of their tenure from October 2025 to February 2028, citing constitutional and Osun State laws.
  • They were elected in October 2022 but denied office, and claim that their tenure should commence from February 2025 when they were inaugurated.
  • The chairmen argue that the conduct of fresh elections in February 2025 was unlawful and an attempt to deprive them of their constitutional right to a full term in office.
  • The defendants in the suit include the Federal Government, the Osun State Government, the Inspector General of Police, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), and the State House of Assembly.
  • The claimants are seeking eight reliefs, including a declaration that OSIEC cannot validly issue a notice of polls or conduct elections into the councils during the subsistence of the tenure of office.
  • The chairmen are praying the court to mandate the AGF and IGP to provide needed security to preserve, protect, and enforce their constitutionally and statutorily guaranteed tenure of office.

Statistics:

  • The APC chairmen's tenure is scheduled to expire in October 2025.
  • The claimants are seeking to extend their tenure to February 2028.
  • The suit was filed at the Federal High Court, Osogbo (FHC/OS/CS/147/2025).
  • The claimants argue that the conduct of fresh elections in February 2025 was unlawful and affected eight local government chairmen, including Saheed Onibonokuta.

Sources:

  • The suit was filed through Barrister Muhideen Adeoye on behalf of Saheed Onibonokuta and seven other local government chairmen.
  • The defendants include the Federal Government, the Osun State Government, the Inspector General of Police, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), and the State House of Assembly.
  • The APC chairmen claim that they were reinstated by the Appeal Court sitting in Akure.