Osogbo, Nigeria – The political crisis in Osun State deepened on Monday as chairmen and councillors elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) took control of local government secretariats across the state.
The dispute between the APC and Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration follows a recent Court of Appeal judgment. While the APC insists that the ruling reinstates its sacked officials, Governor Adeleke maintains that a Federal High Court judgment had removed them from office.
Tensions escalated as violence erupted, resulting in the deaths of six individuals, including the chairman of Irewole Local Government Area. Despite the unrest, APC officials regrouped and seized control of several council secretariats, including those in Obokun, Ife-East, Odo-Otin, Atakumosa-West, Orolu, Ejigbo, Ifelodun, Ilesa-West, Olorunda, Boluwaduro, and Boripe.
APC Freezes Local Government Accounts
Following the takeover, the chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Osun, Mr. Abiodun Idowu, announced the freezing of local government accounts to prevent unauthorized financial transactions.
“Each of us has ordered the immediate freezing of various council accounts. This will curb any form of illegal transactions, as such actions will have consequences,” Idowu stated. He added that the reinstated officials would cooperate with Governor Adeleke’s administration to foster development in the state.
Adeleke: ‘A Rape of Democracy’
Governor Adeleke, reacting strongly to the development, described the takeover as an assault on democracy. During a meeting with the British Deputy High Commissioner, Jonny Baxter, in Osogbo, Adeleke criticized the role of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), accusing him of aiding the APC in enforcing a non-existent court order.
“It is unfortunate and a disservice to democracy that the IGP is colluding with the APC to enforce a non-existent court order. This poses a serious threat to democracy in Nigeria,” Adeleke said.
The governor emphasized that despite the crisis, local government elections would proceed as scheduled on Saturday, assuring that democracy in the state would not be undermined.
Osun Assembly Condemns Takeover
Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Mr. Adewale Egbedun, also denounced the APC’s actions, calling it an affront to the rule of law.
“APC members forcefully broke into local government secretariats across the state. This unlawful invasion is a direct attack on our democratic institutions and a violation of the rule of law. It is disturbing that security agencies, who should uphold the law, were present and did nothing,” Egbedun stated.
PDP Alleges Assassination Plot Against Adeleke
The Osun State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Sunday Bisi, accused security forces of being deployed to the state as part of a plot to assassinate Governor Adeleke.
Dismissing the allegations, APC Chairman Mr. Tajudeen Lawal said: “Claiming that security agents plan to assassinate the governor is a treasonable allegation. If he has evidence, he should be invited to defend his claim rather than escalate tensions.”
House of Reps Intervenes
In response to the escalating crisis, the House of Representatives has set up an investigative committee to look into the situation. The House also called on the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS), and other security agencies to restore law and order in the state.
Presenting a motion in plenary, Osun lawmaker Mr. Bamidele Salam decried the violence, warning that failure to act could lead to a larger security crisis.
“The sacked officials have been breaking into local government secretariats without any valid court order. If urgent action is not taken, this lawlessness could escalate into a more serious security challenge,” Salam stated.
He urged the Attorney General of the Federation to mediate between the parties involved to ease tensions and prevent further violence in Osun State.
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