Chairmen and councillors elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State have taken control of local government council secretariats across the state, intensifying the ongoing political conflict between the APC and Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration.
The crisis follows a Court of Appeal judgment that the APC claims reinstated its elected officials, while Governor Adeleke maintains that they remain sacked based on a Federal High Court ruling. An earlier attempt to enforce the judgment on Monday resulted in the deaths of six people, including the chairman of Irewole Local Government Area.
Regrouping on Tuesday, the APC officials took over several council secretariats, including those in Obokun, Ife-East, Odo-Otin, Atakumosa-West, Orolu, Ejigbo, Ifelodun, Ilesa-West, Olorunda, Boluwaduro, and Boripe.
Addressing journalists, the chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Osun, Mr. Abiodun Idowu, announced that the reinstated officials had frozen local government accounts to prevent unauthorized transactions. He assured that they were willing to work with Governor Adeleke for the state’s development.
However, Governor Adeleke condemned the move, describing it as a “rape of democracy.” Speaking during a meeting with British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter in Osogbo, Adeleke accused the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of supporting the APC’s enforcement of a “non-existent court order.” He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to conducting fresh local government elections as scheduled.
Osun State House of Assembly Speaker, Mr. Adewale Egbedun, also denounced the takeover, calling it an “affront to the rule of law.” He criticized security agencies for allegedly enabling the invasion of the secretariats instead of maintaining law and order.
Meanwhile, the Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alleged that the security deployment surrounding the council crisis was part of a plot to assassinate Governor Adeleke. The PDP chairman, Mr. Sunday Bisi, claimed that the APC had been working on this plan since losing the 2022 gubernatorial election.
In response, Osun APC chairman, Mr. Tajudeen Lawal, dismissed the assassination claims as “laughable,” stating that such an accusation against security forces was baseless and could be an attempt to escalate tensions.
Amid the escalating crisis, the House of Representatives has intervened by setting up an investigative committee. Lawmakers urged the IGP and other security agencies to restore peace and order in the state. The motion, led by Mr. Bamidele Salam and nine other Osun lawmakers, warned that if the situation is not addressed swiftly, it could lead to further security threats.
The House also called on the Attorney General of the Federation to advise all parties involved to ease tensions and prevent further violence.
