By : Comrade Agbogunleri Seun
The recent wave of celebration by the Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the Court of Appeal’s ruling on local government matters is not only misinformed but betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of the legal and political implications of the judgment. What ought to have inspired sober reflection has, sadly, become a festival of false hope and political mischief.
At the heart of this misinterpretation is the erroneous belief that the judgment confers outright control and legitimacy to the PDP at the local government level. This assumption is both misleading and dangerous. The principle of functus officio, which governs judicial processes in Nigeria, dictates that once a court has delivered its final ruling on a matter, it becomes functus officio in simple terms, the court has completed its job and lacks the power to reopen or amend that decision. Therefore, any perceived advantage must be subject to a proper legal and procedural interpretation, not wishful thinking or political propaganda.
The PDP’s hasty jubilation represents a deliberate attempt to exploit public sentiment and twist legal outcomes to fit a preferred narrative. This is a disservice not only to the democratic process but also to the very institution of justice they claim to celebrate. Rather than respect the sanctity of the court’s pronouncement, the PDP appears more interested in weaponising a partial outcome for political capital.
Let it be clear: the ruling of the Appeal Court does not signify an end to the legal journey on this matter. It is neither a blanket validation of PDP’s claim nor a definitive conclusion of the disputes surrounding local government administration in Osun State. The All Progressives Congress (APC) retains the right and indeed the responsibility to seek further interpretation and to appeal where necessary. Democracy is not served by coercive declarations but by the rule of law, due process, and constitutional order.
To the APC family and the good people of Osun State: now is not the time for despair or distraction. It is a time for vigilance, strategic legal engagement, and unwavering faith in the justice system. We must not allow propaganda to overshadow truth, nor should we permit illegality to override due process.
The struggle to entrench accountable and legitimate grassroots governance continues. And as far as the law is concerned, it is certainly not yet Uhuru for the PDP in Osun State.
Comrade Agbogunleri Seun
Progressive Advocate
Ile Ife, Osun State
