Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has said his administration would ensure local government areas in the state reopened and start operating.

Adeleke spoke in Osogbo, Osun State on Thursday during a reception organised in his honour by the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party at the party’s State Secretary.

Activities in local government areas in the state had been on halt since February 17, following power tussle involving the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress regarding the control of the council areas.

The APC leadership in the state insisted that the Akure Court of Appeal, in its decision of February 10, 2025, had returned the officials elected in the October 15, 2022 elections but sacked by an Osogbo Federal High Court in November, 2022, back to office.

But the ruling PDP said the local government chairmen and councilors elected in the February 22, 2025 polls have the mandate to manage the affairs of local government areas in the state.

Addressing hordes of party supporters that received him, the governor, who declared that he was being confronted by strong forces that he likened to the Biblical Pharaoh, said some people were still in shock over the achievements of his administration.

He said, “We will get our local government back and running. They want to hold Osun down. They are shocked with our delivery and transformation of Osun; they want to keep Osun from developing.

“Will you allow them Great members of PDP and good people of Osun state, should we go to the past again? Should we return to bad governance again?

“We must sustain good governance. We must sustain the tempo. The good work must continue. Osun people are with us. God is with us. We shall overcome the Pharaohs facing us. We will get our local government back and running. They want to hold Osun down.

“They are shocked with our delivery and transformation of Osun; they want to keep Osun from developing. Will you allow them?”

He called on members of the party to commence mobilsation, participate in the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration and encourage other residents of voting age to also get registered for Permanent Voters Register.

In their separate remarks, the Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Mr. Wale Egbedun and the Deputy Senate Minority Leader, Senator Lere Oyewumi, urged PDP members to keep supporting Adeleke and remain committed to the party without wavering.

They also called on them to participate actively in the CVR in preparation for the 2026 governorship polls in the state. (The PUNCH)