REJOINDER: APP Chairman Counters Nation Newspaper’s Report on Osun LG Crisis – Says Court Never Reinstated Sacked APC Chairmen
The Chairman of the Action Peoples Party (APP), Mr. Odesola Oluseye Titus, has issued a strong rebuttal to a report published by The Nation newspaper on June 28, 2025, which claimed that the Court of Appeal reinstated sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) local government chairmen and councillors in Osun State.
Describing the report as “misleading and riddled with factual inaccuracies,” Mr. Titus said the newspaper’s interpretation of the judgment delivered on February 10, 2025, in Appeal No: CA/AK/270/2022 (APC & 3 Ors. v. PDP & 3 Ors.) was a gross misrepresentation of the court’s decision.
No Reinstatement Order in Appeal Court Judgment – Titus
Quoting directly from the judgment, Mr. Titus emphasized that the Court of Appeal addressed only jurisdictional issues and did not delve into the merit of the case or issue any reinstatement order in favour of the APC officials removed from office.
“The Court clearly held that the originating summons lacked a valid cause of action, and therefore, the lower court had no jurisdiction,” he stated, referencing page 49 of the appellate court’s judgment. “Nowhere in the ruling did the Court of Appeal order the reinstatement of the chairmen and councillors elected under the APC on October 15, 2022.”
He accused The Nation newspaper and a statement reportedly issued by APM Chairman Hon. Adewale Adebayo of “deliberately distorting the legal outcome to suit political narratives.”
Federal High Court Verdict Nullifying October 2022 Election Still Valid
Mr. Titus also pointed out that while one of the two judgments by the Federal High Court on the disputed 2022 Osun LG elections was set aside on jurisdictional grounds, the second ruling — FHC/OS/CS/103/22 (APP v. INEC & Ors.) — delivered on November 30, 2022, remains valid, binding, and has not been overturned. This judgment, he reiterated, effectively nullified the October 2022 local government elections and sacked all APC officials elected therefrom.
In its June 13, 2025 ruling, the Court of Appeal in Appeal No: CA/AK/15/2025 (APM & Ors v. APP) confirmed the standing of that judgment, stating unequivocally that, “the said judgment stands as the authority defining the state of affairs as regards the status of the Officers of the various Local Government Councils in Osun State.”
Court Validated February 2025 PDP-led LG Election
Further strengthening his argument, Mr. Titus cited the concurring ruling of the same appellate court, which affirmed the validity of the fresh local government elections conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) on February 22, 2025. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the elections, and the new officials were subsequently sworn in.
“In our legal system, concurring judgments hold equal authority as lead judgments,” Titus noted. “The concurring decision expressly recognized the legitimacy of the new PDP-led LG officials.”
Call to the AGF: Uphold Rule of Law, Release Withheld LG Funds
The APP Chairman called on the Attorney-General of the Federation to uphold the principles of justice by advising the Federal Government to release the statutory allocations due to Osun State’s 30 Local Government Councils. The funds have been withheld since January 2025.
“This issue is only complicated by political manipulations. The law is clear. The only standing and valid election recognized by the courts is that conducted on February 22, 2025, and the funds should go to those elected officials,” he stressed.
Ethical Journalism Demanded – Media Called to Order
Mr. Titus also condemned what he described as unethical journalism and called for adherence to the Nigerian Code of Ethics for Journalists. He urged The Nation newspaper and others to prioritize factual, balanced reporting and to correct any misinformation swiftly.
“The media is the Fourth Estate of the Realm and must not mislead the public, especially on sensitive issues that affect governance and public trust,” Titus concluded.
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Signed:
Odesola Oluseye Titus
Chairman, Action Peoples Party (APP)
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By:
Newsdesk, Njenje Media
Osogbo, Nigeria
29th June, 2025
