The political crisis in Osun State over the control of local government administrations has escalated, with the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, deploying a tactical squad to maintain order at local government secretariats. According to reliable sources within the police force, the squad has been mandated to remain stationed at the secretariats for two months. This move comes amid a growing crisis between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the legitimacy of recently elected local government officials.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State recently swore in a new local government chairman and councillors following a Saturday election in which the APC refused to participate. The APC had withdrawn from the election, citing a Court of Appeal judgment that reportedly reinstated the APC chairmen elected in 2022 but later removed from office. Despite warnings from the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police against holding fresh elections, Governor Adeleke proceeded with the poll, leading to further tensions.
APC vows to block newly elected from accessing council funds.
Additionally, the opposition party has vowed to take strict measures to prevent the newly sworn-in chairmen from accessing local government funds. A prominent APC leader in the state revealed plans to write to banks instructing them to freeze the accounts of the local governments. The opposition party claims that the new chairmen are illegitimate and that the Court of Appeal judgment has reinstated their chairmen elected in 2022. The opposition party also plans to issue directives for local government workers to resume their duties under the leadership of the reinstated APC chairmen.
Meanwhile, the APC’s stance has been met with strong opposition from the state’s ruling party, which dismissed its plans as baseless and warned against any attempts to disrupt the functioning of local governments. The PDP emphasised that the election was conducted in accordance with the law and that the newly elected officials have a legitimate mandate to govern. The party also criticised the opposition party for attempting to use the courts and financial institutions to undermine the democratic process.
Gov. Adeleke urges caution amid rising tensions in the state.
In light of the escalating tensions, Governor Adeleke has advised the newly sworn-in chairmen and councillors to avoid the local government secretariats to prevent clashes with the APC chairmen, who have occupied the offices with police support. The governor expressed confidence in the judiciary’s ability to resolve the matter peacefully and urged the new officials to focus on delivering good governance. Despite the challenges, he also commended the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) for conducting a free and fair election.
Several prominent figures attended the swearing-in ceremony, including Bala Muhammed, Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, and Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State. Both leaders emphasised the importance of adhering to the Rule of Law and warned against any actions that could lead to further instability in the state. Governor Makinde specifically cautioned against resorting to self-help, urging all parties to allow the legal process to run its course. But, the APC still condemned the local government election as illegal and unconstitutional. The party accused the state governor of disregarding the rule of law and the court’s authority by proceeding with the election despite the Court of Appeal judgment.
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Therefore, the APC called on the federal government to ensure that local government allocations are only released to democratically elected officials, as recognised by the courts. The party also urged Security Agencies to prevent further breakdown of law and order in the state. On the other hand, the PDP has hailed the election as a victory for democracy and the rule of law. The party praised the people of Osun State for their resilience and commitment to democratic principles despite attempts by the opposition to disrupt the process. The PDP’s overwhelming victory in all 30 local government areas has been seen as a testament to the party’s dominance in the state and the region.