Two factional local government chairmen are holding sway at the local government secretariats in Osun State, South-west region, elected chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) occupy council secretariats while PDP chairmen elected on Saturday, February 22, 2025 are operating from unknown quarters. Which set of the chairmen is the legitimately elected local government chairmen in the state?
Lives have been lost, including that of a local government chairman elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Properties worth millions of naira were not spared in Osun State as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and APC factions clashed on Monday, February 17, 2025 over who controls the local government secretariats in the state. The crisis over the control of local government secretariats worsened as eight persons, including a local government chairman, were reportedly killed and scores injured as elected local government officials on the platform of the APC, resumed offices at the various council secretariats.
The state government led by a PDP governor claimed that the party lost five persons, while the APC claimed it lost three of its members to the fracas.
Both rival parties in the state have been laying claim to the control of the council areas with the APC claiming that the Appeal Court had reinstated the sacked elected council chairmen and councilors who were brought in by the former governor, Adegboyega Oyetola at the twilight of his government.
The Osun State government, however, countered that the purported election by the APC-led government of Oyetola was nullified by a Federal High Court in Osogbo.
As early as 8 am on the said day, the elected council officials had mobilised to resume at their offices at Boripe, Ilesa-West, Obokun, Odo-Otin, Iwo, Ayedaade, Isokan, and Irewole LGAs among others.
But in a move to resist the APC chairmen from resuming, thugs suspected to be loyal to the PDP in the affected areas stormed the offices and were shooting sporadically into the air.
In an attempt to resist them, another set of thugs suspected to be loyal to the APC countered the move, which resulted in casualties.
Addressing newsmen on behalf of the APC Chairman at the Ileri-Oluwa Campaign office in Osogbo, Jamiu Olawumi, said that the reinstated chairmen and councillors had successfully resumed offices in about 15 Local Council Areas before the suspected PDP thugs stormed the councils with guns.
As early as 9:15 am, the council officials had successfully resumed offices in 15 council areas, including Ede-South, Ife-Central, Ife-North, Ife-East, Ilesa-East, Obokun, Odo-Otin, Osogbo, BoripeIrewole, Isokan, Ayedaade, Atakumosa-East LGAs.
Speaking on the clash, Olawumi said, “But surprisingly, in line with the threat of Governor Ademola Adeleke, PDP thugs invaded the council secretariats and started shooting at our people. Remi Abass, chairman of Irewole was killed, a councillor was killed in Isokan, and one APC member at Ola-Oluwa LGA.
“We called on the governor to call his party members to order as we will not stop resuming at the secretariats in line with the court verdict.
“Even those that did not go to the secretariat were targeted for assassination. Engr. Remi Omowaye, Executive Director, Federal Housing Authority, escaped assassination by the whiskers from PDP thugs in Ilesa as his vehicle was shot severally and his office attacked in the town.”
The Commissioner for Protocol and Government Affairs in the state, Mr Soji Ajeigbe, claimed that two PDP members, Ege and Igara, were killed by gun-wielding thugs working for the APC.
According to him, “Apart from those killed, six others were killed while they were attempting to take over the secretariat. We have deposited the bodies in the morgue while the injured are receiving treatment at the hospital.”
In his reaction to the killings and invasion of council secretariats, Governor Ademola Adeleke, who took to his X handle (@AAdeleke_01), directed security agencies to take charge of all local government secretariats just as he called for an end to the bloodshed.
Governor Adeleke wrote, “Following reports of the failed illegal takeover bid of local government councils in Osun by the sacked APC Chairmen and councillors, I hereby direct all Osun residents including politicians across all political divides to stay away from the local government secretariats to protect public properties and avoid further bloodshed.
“This has become necessary, especially as the council secretariats are expected to be under lock and key, due to the withdrawal of service, announced by workers of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, across the state.
“I equally console families of victims of the APC illegal takeover bid and chaos unleashed across the state by the APC and their hired thugs. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lost five members with several others wounded. Two of those members are from Iragbiji, Boripe local government. Another two were killed at Ola Oluwa Local government. Another one was lost at Ikire. We must stop further bloodshed.
“I have directed security agencies to take charge of all local government secretariats and I hereby assure residents of Osun of their safety and protection of lives and properties.”
Recall that the APC and the Osun State PDP-led government have been at loggerheads over the control of the councils following the Court of Appeal judgement. The APC claimed its elected officials have been reinstated, Governor Adeleke said they remained sacked following a Federal High Court judgement.
The APC officials regrouped and took over many of the council secretariats in the state.
The council areas included Obokun, Ife-East, Odo-Otin, Atakumosa-West, Orolu, Ejigbo, Ifelodun, Ilesa-West, Olorunda, Ifelodun, Boluwaduro and Boripe.
Addressing newsmen at the Ileri-Oluwa campaign office, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) chairman, Mr Abiodun Idowu, said the accounts of the council areas were frozen to curb illegal transactions, insisting the reinstated officials would work with Governor Adeleke to develop the state.
The ALGON chairman said, “Following our official resumption of office in 26 local government council areas, each one of us has ordered the immediate freezing of various council accounts. This will curb any form of illegal transaction as such will have consequences.”
While reacting to the takeover of the council areas, Governor Adeleke described the action as a “rape of democracy” in the state.
The governor, who said this while meeting the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Jonny Baxter at his office in Osogbo, described the role of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in the crisis as unfortunate, adding that, “It is unfortunate and a disservice to democracy that the Inspector General of Police is colluding with the APC to enforce a non-existing court order. This is a serious threat to democracy in Nigeria.
“You are in my state at a critical juncture in our political life. We face an existential threat to our democratic life from those who should protect democracy. We have made the best of efforts to guarantee peace on the unfolding local government question. I directed members of the political class to stay away.
“But the opposition supported by the police went ahead to break into the local government secretariats. Security men openly supported them to enforce illegality.
“Nonetheless, our local government election is holding on Saturday. Our people are ready for elections. We will not allow democracy to be destroyed.”
Amid the crisis, the Osun State Government had insisted on Friday, February 21 that despite the purported takeover of local government council secretariats by members of the APC in the state, the local government council election would go on as scheduled on Saturday, February 22.
The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi while speaking with newsmen, said the disruptive activities of the council would not affect the poll.
According to him, the action of the APC was targeted at stopping the poll but stated that no one had the the legal authority to stop the electoral process which started last year, saying the electoral body would complete the process and new elected council officials would be sworn-in.
Alimi: “All of these is aimed at truncating the electoral process, but as a government, we will provide an enabling environment for the process to be completed and Saturday and we urge everyone to come out and exercise their civic rights.”
But a chieftain of the APC, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye urged President Tinubu to prevail on Governor Adeleke to stop the council polls to prevent crisis in the state.
On his part, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, also warned Adeleke, to shelve his plan to conduct Local Government elections in the state on that Saturday.
In a statement whhich he personally signed and made available to newsmen, the AGF had warned the Osun State government that going ahead with the elections would amount to a breach of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Fagbemi stressed that the Court of Appeal had in a recent judgement, restored all elected LG officials in the state that were illegally removed from office by governor Adeleke.
The Justice Minister had also posited that going by the decision of the appellate court, the tenure of the restored officials would only expire in October, 2025.
Hence, he advised Adeleke to “toe the path of law in this matter and not instigate unnecessary violence in Osun State.”
According to Fagbemi, “My attention has been drawn to the PUBLIC OUTCRY OF Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke concerning the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Akure division delivered on 10th day of February, 2025 in Appeal No CA/AK/272/2022 which nullified and set aside the judgement of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, Osun State, delivered on 25th day of November 2022.
“It has become necessary to issue this public notice to remove doubts, fears and uncertainties created by misrepresentations and disinformation concerning the legal effect of the judgement of the Court of Appeal.”
“Putting matters in proper context, the event that led to the two judgements was that during the currency of the term of the former Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, the election was held into all the local governments of Osun State and winners were sworn in.
“However, a few days before the swearing-in of Governor Adeleke, the Federal High Court Osogbo delivered the judgement referred to above in which it nullified the election of the Local Government elected officials and removed them from office.
“As soon as Governor Adeleke assumed office a few days after the judgement, he issued an executive order for the physical removal of the elected officials and replaced them with caretaker appointees.
“Meanwhile, the APC that was a party in the Federal High Court case referred to above appealed against the judgement.
“The Court of Appeal eventually, on 10th day of February 2025 delivered its judgement in the appeal filed by APC against the judgement of the Federal High Court.
“The Court of Appeal not only allowed the appeal, it also held affirmatively that the suit that resulted in the judgement of the Federal High Court referred to above was incompetent and consequently made an order striking out the suit.
“Accordingly, the judgement of the Court of Appeal had by implication effectively restored the elected Local Government officials removed by the Federal High Court, back to their offices.
“According to the facts made available to my office, it was the attempt by the said elected officials to resume back in their positions that was resisted by some disgruntled elements which led to the crisis.
“His Excellency, the Governor of Osun State, Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke is no doubt aware of this scenario and ought, as a leader to have called the disgruntled elements to order in accordance with his Oath of Office to maintain law and order in Osun State.
“Notwithstanding the judgment of the Court of Appeal referenced above, which in effect means that the term of office of the elected officials has regained currency and will naturally run out in October, 2025, His Excellency has insisted that a new Local Government election shall be held on Saturday, 22nd February, 2025.
“Any such election that may be held will not only be invalid, since the term of office of the elected officials just restored by the judgement of the Court of Appeal will still be running until October 20.”
But Governor Adeleke, responding to the AGF said in a statement issues by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed that, “Voters are prepared to exercise their voting rights on Saturday. Our people are prepared for elections today. They yearn to have their choices as chairmen and councillors. OSIEC has also done marvelous preparatory job according to reports at my disposal. Several political parties are participating and I believe there will be a level playing ground for all to test their popularity with the masses.”
The Osun State Electoral Commission (OSIEC), was also ordered to go ahead with the election by a State High Court in a motion on notice brought before it by the PDP against the commission. Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe also tasked security agencies to provide adequate security for the poll across the 30 council areas during the exercise.
The court further directed and compelled all the security agencies, comprising of the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Army, the Department of State Service DSS, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Amotekun Corps, the Vigilante group etc in the state to provide adequate security, during and after the election.
At last, the local government election in Osun held as scheduled. In the Saturday February 22 election, candidates of the PDP won in all the local government councils, the APC having earlier withdrawn from the exercise.
At the swearing in ceremony in Osogbo, Adeleke directed the elected chairmen and councilors to stay away from the council secretariats to avoid clash with the APC chairmen. Adeleke said, “I urge you and your councilors to please stay away from the council secretariats to avoid any clash with those whom the police had aided to forcefully occupy the local government secretariats.
“An Osun State High Court had affirmed the vacancies in both the chairman and councilor positions in all of Osun State local governments before your election on the 22nd February 2025.
“We will, therefore, rely on the judiciary to ensure a peaceful removal of those illegally occupying the local government secretariats”.
He, however, urged them to deliver on the mandate given to them. The swearing in event was witnessed by the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Muhammed, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and friends and associates of the elected officials.
Adeleke, at the event, asked the newly-elected officials to develop plans of action within the PDP manifesto, noting that his administration was working hard to transform the state.
He called on them to be agents of change and deliver dividends of democracy to the people.
He clarified that the state was within the context of the rule of law and the constitution in conducting the local government election.
“We are equally aware of the legal controversies that dogged the holding of the election.
“It is, however, a thing of joy that the facts are out in the public domain and we are satisfied that we are on the side of the law, within the context of the rule of law and the constitution,” he said.
The governor congratulated the chairmen and councilors, as he also thanked the OSSIEC for discharging its mandate professionally.
“You have the mandate to deliver on good governance in your respective local governments. I charge you to develop plans of action within the manifesto of the PDP.
“Our thanks also go to the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission for discharging its mandate professionally and with all sense of responsibility. We also commend security agencies and state officials who made the election a reality,” Adeleke said.
