Tenure Determination: Osun APC Reinstated Council Chairmen, Councillors Pray Court To Grant Reliefs Sought

...As Court Picks May 21st, 2026 for Judgment

The reinstated Council Chairmen and Councillors elected under the All Progressives Congress, APC in Osun State, on Wednesday, asked the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo to grant all the reliefs sought in the tenure determination suit before it. 

The Counsel for Osun State Government, Musbau Aderumbi SAN acknowledged the February 10th Court of Appeal judgment that reinstated the APC Council Chairmen and Councillors as Court adjourned judgment to May, 21st, 2026

At the preliminary stage, the APM sought to be joined and was accordingly joined as the 7th Defendant to the suit.

However, the presiding Judge, Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi, did not grant the 7th Defendant right to file its defence upon being joined and a refusal Counsel to the party, Yinka Okedara SAN said in his reply that it eroded the Claimants' right to amend the Originating Summons so as to incorporate the newly joined 7th Defendant and also an opportunity to react to whatsoever defence the 7th Defendant might file. 

Recall that the APC reinstated council officers in suit No. FHC/OS/CS/147/2025 between Onibonokuta Saheed & 7 Ors v AGF & 6 Ors, the Plaintiffs seek among other reliefs whether they are entitled to 3 years in office commencing from February, 2025 and whether the OSSIEC could validly on 22nd February, 2025 conduct elections and swear into the same offices purported new officers during the subsistence of their tenure of office. 

The APC chairmen and councillors' Counsel, Kazeem Gbadamosi SAN, argued that the request was in line with the requirements of law but the Court overruled it and directed that hearing be commenced. 

Similarly, other issues touching on the commencement of the hearing as raised by the Claimants' counsel were overruled by the Court.

Counsel for Osun State Government, Musbau Aderumbi SAN urged the court to dismiss the suit advised that the reinstated Chairmen and Councilors tenure ended in October  2025.

The lead counsel to the Claimants, Kazeem Gbadamosi SAN argued that no such elongation was sought as all the Claimants seek was whether the applicable law that says tenure commences from the date of the 1st sitting has to be complied with or not.  

He argued further that 'having admitted that the tenure ended in October, 2025, validity of the purported elections and swearing of 23rd February  2025 being claimed is a nullity.'

The SAN finally urged the court to grant all the reliefs sought by the Claimants.

Also led in the matter for the Claimants were Barrister Adeoye Galadima and others, while Police and Attorney General of Federation were also represented by counsel.