THIS DAWN — Governor Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has issued a strongly worded state broadcast, denouncing the continued illegal occupation of local government secretariats by court-sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen and councillors.
He described the situation as a grave affront to democracy and the rule of law, vowing to defend lawful governance at the grassroots.
Background of the Dispute
The controversy dates back to November 2022, when the Federal High Court in Osogbo nullified the election of APC local government officials, ruling that the exercise violated legal requirements.
The decision was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal on February 10, 2025, and again on June 13, 2025.
Despite these rulings, the APC chairmen and councillors have refused to vacate the secretariats.
They are allegedly emboldened by police protection under instructions from former Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
Fresh Elections and Legal Mandate
Governor Adeleke emphasized that he did not remove the APC officials from office, but that the courts did.
In compliance with judicial directives, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission conducted fresh local government elections on February 22, 2025, with duly elected officials sworn in the following day.
“These officials constitute the only lawful local government leadership in Osun State today,” Adeleke declared.
Tenure Expiration and Legal Precedents
The Governor cited the Supreme Court ruling in the Ladoja case, which established that elected officials’ tenure cannot be extended beyond its expiration.
He noted that even the APC chairmen and councillors had admitted their tenure expired on October 22, 2025, when they approached the Federal High Court seeking an extension.
“That very act of seeking an extension amounts to a clear admission that their tenure had expired,” Adeleke said.
Allegations of Police Backing and Violence
Adeleke condemned the alleged use of armed police officers and APC thugs to intimidate civil servants attempting to resume duties at the secretariats.
He described the harassment and assault of workers as a “grave abuse of power and an affront to democracy.”
“The use of armed police officers to occupy local government secretariats and intimidate civil servants is unacceptable.
“It is a brazen contempt of the law and democratic decency,” he stated.
The Governor’s broadcast signifies the escalating tension between the state government and opposition forces over control of local government institutions.
Analysts warn that the standoff could deepen political divisions in Osun State, while also testing the resilience of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
