Aftermath of Appeal Court judgment… Violence erupts in Osun, ex-council chair, 4 others killed

The Court of Appeal judgement on local government election held at the twilight of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s administration in 2022 in Osun state has caused confusion as both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) lay claims to the control of the local governments.

The appellate court dismissed the suit of the PDP and upheld the appeal of the APC.

The crisis was a fallout of conflicting interpretations of the court pronouncements over the removal of elected local government chairmen, through the nullification of the 2022 local council election in the state.

The appellate court recently nullified an earlier judgment of the High Court, which had ruled that the tenure of the local government chairmen was illegal.

However, the court did not make a consequential order reinstating them.

This, has, however, caused confusion as the PDP posited that the court did not order their reinstatement, while the APC said the prayer submitted to the court included the order to return the sacked council chairmen to their offices. 

When the ‘reinstated chairmen and councilors stormed their secretariats Monday to resume work, they succeeded in some places, while hoodlums attacked and resisted them in others. 

The former chairman of Irewole, Remi Abass, who went to the local government to resume despite warning by the state government, was allegedly killed by hoodlums. 

Abass and some other chairmen had resumed at their various local governments in apparent attempt to carry out the order of the court before they were resisted by hoodlums, and he was killed at Ikire, headquarters of Irewole local government.

Also, the Commissioner for Protocols and Government Affairs, Soji Ajeigbe, claimed that two persons were killed at Boripe local government by APC chairmen who stormed the secretariat to take over.

When our correspondent visited Iragbiji in Boripe local government, they said corpses of the victims had been taken to the hospital. 

On its part, the PDP claimed that one of its members was killed at Ola-Oluwa local government.

Speaking with journalists, an APC chieftain, Jamiu Olawumi, explained that the chairmen and councillors resumed in 15 local government areas in Osun central and Osun East around 9am, while those in the west resume around 9:30am.

“To our amazement, PDP thugs started going to those councils. The Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, also led troops of PDP thugs to Osogbo local government and it was on Facebook.

“The chairman of Irewole local government, Hon Abass was about to cross to the council when he was killed. A councillor was killed in Isokan. Just by the whiskers, Remi Omowaye was waylaid at Ilesa.

“At Ife East, somebody was shot at in Ife East. At Ife South, they did not allow the chairmen and councillors to enter the office because that place was heavily staged by hoodlums.

“The federal government should invite the attorney general of the federation to interpret the judgment. Governor Ademola Adeleke is killing us. We shall continue to go to the office,” Olawumi said.

 …My escape, by ED FHA

Narrating how his experience, Executive Director of Project Implementation at the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Engr. Remi Omowaiye said  he escaped assassination by whiskers along Osogbo/Ilesa road. 

“I was returning to Osogbo from Ilesha when we ran into an ambush in front of Ilesa West Local government. They shot at where I was sitting on the bus, bullet shattered the side windscreen. 

“My driver and police orderly sustained serious gunshot wounds. They have been taken to hospital for treatment,” Omowaye said.

He called for proscription of Amotekun Corps who he alleged took part in the shooting on his car.

 …Gov Adeleke urges caution

Meanwhile, Governor Adeleke has directed Osun residents including politicians across political divides to stay away from the local government secretariats to protect public properties and avoid further bloodshed.

In a statement Monday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Governor  Adeleke said since the local government workers were on strike, only security agencies should be allowed to man the secretariats.

“I therefore direct all law abiding Osun residents to stay away from the council secretariats especially as they are expected to be under lock and key.

“I equally condole families of victims of the APC illegal takeover bid and chaos unleashed across the state by the APC and their hired thugs. 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 the bloodshed,” Adeleke said.

He assured residents of their safety and protection of lives and properties, affirming that he had directed security agencies to take charge of all local government secretariats.

 … NASS Caucus seeks Tinubu’s intervention

And in his reaction, the Osun State Caucus in the National Assembly has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene in the lingering political crisis in the state.

The caucus urged the president to direct the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to immediately restore law and order in the state.

Members of the caucus  who spoke at a media briefing in Abuja  Monday however, warned against the threat of political thugs to  destabilise the state.

“We are calling on Mr. President to direct the Inspector General of Police to immediately restore law and order in Osun State”, leader of the caucus in the House of Representatives, Bamidele Salam, said.

Salam cautioned against what he described as a dangerous attempt by the APC  to forcefully take over local government councils in the state.

“Aside from the Appeal Court decision nullifying the High Court judgment in the PDP’s case, the appellate court also dismissed a similar suit filed by the APC concerning the Action Peoples Party. The APC had abandoned the case, and as such, no ruling was given in their favour,” he said.

Also warning that what is happening was an invitation to chaos, the lawmaker said: “Despite a subsisting court judgment affirming their removal, these officials, aided by thugs, have been allowed to return to office unlawfully. The role of security agencies in this unlawful occupation raises serious questions about their neutrality and commitment to upholding law and order.”