The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday described the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against Justice Yinka Aderibigbe of the State High Court, Ilesa Division, at the National Judicial Council (NJC) as an act of desperation.
Justice Aderibigbe had, a day before the February 22 local government election in Osun, granted an order mandating the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to proceed with the exercise.
Reacting to the petition, the PDP, in a statement issued by its Director of Media, Hezekiah Oladele Bamiji, criticized the APC for resorting to what it described as “unintelligent threats and harassment” instead of taking the civilised approach of appealing the ruling if aggrieved.
The party noted that Justice Aderibigbe had previously delivered several rulings against the PDP, making the APC’s actions appear hypocritical.
The statement read: “The latest antics of the Osun APC are not only indecent but also a dangerous attempt to manipulate the polity without considering the far-reaching consequences for Nigeria’s stability and democracy.
“The APC’s federal power mongers are sending a disturbing message—that judicial officers in Nigeria are no longer safe, particularly under the leadership of the Chief Justice of Nigeria. Worse still, the APC appears to be suggesting that any matter brought before the judiciary by its members in Osun State should be automatically rubber-stamped, whether meritorious or not.
“It is laughable that the APC would petition the NJC based on suppressed facts. Their disingenuous move is dead on arrival, as they continue to evade the reality that the Appeal Court had already dismissed their challenge—both by themselves and the APM—against the Federal High Court’s nullification of their unconstitutional ‘Yes or No’ chairmen in local government councils.
“Demanding that the NJC overturn a valid ruling delivered on February 21, 2025, by Justice Aderibigbe, which recognized and affirmed the vacancies in Osun local councils or seeking to punish the judge for discharging his constitutional responsibility, is a reckless and unconstitutional request.
“The judgment was based on a prior Appeal Court ruling concerning the Osun local government crisis before the February 22, 2025, local government election, which was brought before the court by way of originating motion by the PDP.
“The PDP insists that asking the NJC to interfere in a settled court judgment is tantamount to rewriting the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the entire legal system—all in a bid to satisfy the angry and power-hungry Osun APC members.
“The PDP strongly warns all federal agencies being pressured by the APC to remain mindful of their constitutional responsibilities in upholding Nigeria’s unity and the rule of law. Any agency that succumbs to coercion risks not only being branded as a willful accomplice in an illegal plot but also undermining the very fabric of the nation’s stability and existence.”
