By Abiola Olawale
The Osun State local government election is underway, as several polling units across the state have commenced voting.
The New Diplomat reports that Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has cast his vote at his polling unit, Unit 9, Sagba Abogunde Ward 2, Ede North Local Government Area of the state.
The New Diplomat reports that the election, organized by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), follows a contentious buildup involving legal disputes, political rivalries, and security concerns.
Adeleke’s administration had pushed forward with the polls despite opposition from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and warnings from the Nigeria Police Force.
The tension escalated from a series of events, including a Court of Appeal ruling on February 10, 2025, which the APC claims reinstated its local government officials elected in October 2022, though the Osun State government disputes this interpretation, citing a separate, subsisting Federal High Court judgment nullifying that election.
On Friday, an Osun State High Court in Ilesa ordered OSSIEC to proceed with the election and mandated security agencies to ensure safety, a directive the state government has embraced while rejecting police advice to suspend the polls due to alleged bias.
