The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has raised alarm over what it described as a plan by Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration to unleash violence on reinstated council officials across the state’s local government areas.
Speaking at a press briefing in Osogbo on Sunday, former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Sunday Akere, alleged that the state government, in collaboration with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was plotting to use a High Court ruling to forcefully return PDP-selected officials to council secretariats. He warned that the move could lead to a breakdown of law and order.
Akere further accused the government of planning to procure a judgement from a State High Court in Ikirun that would mandate Governor Adeleke to reinstate PDP-aligned officials through a court order of mandamus. According to him, this would empower the use of Amotekun Corps and alleged political thugs to chase away APC council officials.
“It is on the 17th of April, 2025, that this procured ruling will be enforced, targeting our elected chairmen and seeking to forcefully remove them from their offices,” Akere claimed. “The intent is to unleash violence and disregard the ruling of the Court of Appeal which upheld our chairmen’s reinstatement.”
Supporting the claims, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Adebayo Adeleke, called on security agencies to intervene. He said the governor must ensure law and order in line with his constitutional responsibilities.
“As an opposition party, we have informed Nigerians and the security agencies about this alleged plan. The current insecurity, which has made NULGE workers reluctant to resume work, reflects the failure of the state government,” he stated.
In a swift reaction, Governor Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, dismissed the claims as baseless and politically motivated. He said the APC was attempting to blackmail the judiciary and shift attention from legal battles it currently faces.
“The APC’s alarm is pure fiction,” Rasheed stated. “They are afraid of facing the law. Their illegal occupation of council secretariats is under challenge in three separate lawsuits — by PDP under ALGON, NULGE workers, and even the All Peoples Party (APP), which has sued for contempt of court.”
Rasheed accused the APC of ignoring a subsisting court judgement that nullified the tenure of its so-called “Yes/No” chairmen and insisted the party was acting in defiance of judicial orders.
As legal and political tensions mount, observers have urged both parties to allow due process to take its course while security operatives have been advised to maintain order across the local government areas.
