Former presidential aspirant and founder of the Rescue Movement for a New Nigeria, Faduri Oluwadare Joseph, has decried the ongoing crisis surrounding local government elections in Osun State, calling it a “shameful threat to democracy” and a “disgrace” perpetuated by both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
In a press statement on Sunday, Joseph, popularly called Fadojoe, said the recent events in Osun have moved beyond partisan politics into what he described as “a direct assault on the principles of democracy, fairness, and justice.”
“Our local government elections have become a caricature of democracy, a disgraceful display of manipulation and illegality,” he stated. “This is not just politics — it is a threat to democracy itself.”
Fadojoe condemned the local government elections conducted under former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the APC, describing the process as a “stage-managed fraud” where voters were given a Yes/No option instead of real candidates. He further revealed that the Action People’s Party (APP) was omitted from the ballot entirely.
“That sham should never have stood,” he said. “The removal of those APC-installed officials was necessary — but what followed under the PDP has proven no better.”
He equally lambasted the PDP-led administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke for organizing a similarly flawed election riddled with allegations of ballot box theft, vote manipulation in the bush, and voting that allegedly ended before 7:00 a.m. in some towns.
“No serious democratic process would operate like that,” he said, calling the exercise a “kangaroo election” and an “emergency democracy.”
Fadojoe raised strong concerns about the neutrality of the Osun Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), pointing out that its chairman, Mr. Hashim Abioye, is a known PDP member and former House of Assembly aspirant.
He also criticized the judiciary and security agencies for failing to act with clarity and impartiality amid conflicting court rulings from the Court of Appeal in Akure and the Federal High Court in Osun over who should occupy local government seats.
“This confusion is dangerous. Already, lives have been lost in previous clashes over reinstatements,” he warned. “If nothing changes, more blood may be spilled.”
Fadojoe called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to break his silence and act decisively, saying.
“This is beyond partisan politics. Democracy is on fire in Osun State, and inaction is no longer acceptable.”
He also admonished Governor Adeleke to respect the judiciary and refrain from unilaterally directing sacked or new council officials to resume duties without clear legal rulings.
“You are the executive, not the judiciary,” he reminded the governor. “Let the rule of law, not politics, guide your actions.”
To security operatives, he urged professionalism and neutrality, reminding them, “Your loyalty is to the people of Nigeria — not to any political party.”
Fadojoe used the crisis in Osun as a broader warning to Nigerians, saying the failure of local government elections threatens the country’s democratic foundation.
“We must reject Yes/No elections. We must denounce kangaroo voting and bush ballot boxes. We must demand real elections — free, fair, and credible.”
He emphasized that the struggle to fix local democracy is not about the APC or PDP, but about Nigeria’s collective future.
“Until we fix our local government elections, we cannot build the New Nigeria we all dream of. Enough is enough.”
Osun State has been plunged into confusion following disputed local government elections held by both the APC and PDP administrations. Court judgments have conflicted over who is legally entitled to occupy the council seats, further complicating the political landscape and stoking tensions in communities.
