Osun Lawmakers Condemn Forceful Takeover of Local Councils, Accuse APC Leaders of Instigating Violence

The Osun State Caucus of the 10th National Assembly has condemned the forceful takeover of local government secretariats across Osun State by sacked council officials, calling it an act of lawlessness that threatens democracy and the rule of law.

In a press conference held on Monday in Abuja, the caucus, which includes three senators and nine House of Representatives members from Osun, addressed the political situation following judicial pronouncements on the 2022 local government elections.

The lawmakers criticised the actions of the dismissed officials, who, according to them, “forcefully broke into the premises of the councils, aided by thugs and hooligans who have been shooting sporadically, wreaking havoc on the people of the State, thereby breaking law and order.”

The caucus also accused some security personnel of supporting the illegal takeover despite a subsisting court ruling that upheld the nullification of the 2022 elections.

“Sadly, this is being perpetrated with the support of some security personnel, relying on a different court judgement, despite a subsisting court judgement which upheld the nullification of their purported election,” the statement read.

The lawmakers further alleged that the crisis was orchestrated under the directives of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, alongside certain APC leaders and security agency heads in the state.

“We are aware that these dastardly acts are being carried out under the directives of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr.

Gboyega Oyetola and some notable leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State in active collaboration with the heads of Security Agencies in the State, namely; the Commissioner of Police, the Director of State Security Service, and the State Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),” the statement alleged.

The caucus noted that the ongoing situation contradicts the APC’s participation in the upcoming local government elections scheduled for 22nd February.

“It therefore baffles any right-thinking mind on how the same party and its leaders will turn around to insist that officials who were sacked over two years ago should forcefully take over office in a manner that disrupts the peace of the state,” the lawmakers stated.

Citing multiple violent incidents across Osun, the caucus reported that PDP members, local government workers, and civilians had been attacked.

“At Isokan Local Government, it was reported that three PDP members were shot dead by APC thugs in their bid to take over the local government secretariats,” they claimed, adding that similar incidents occurred in Boripe, Boluwaduro, Ayedaade, and Ilesa East local governments.

The lawmakers called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene immediately.
“We hereby alert the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, HE Sen. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the international community of this unfortunate occurrence.
“Accordingly, we call on Mr. President to direct the Inspector General of Police to immediately restore law and order in the State,” the statement urged.

They also called on the National Security Adviser and the Attorney General of the Federation to caution the APC against what they described as “barbaric actions.” Concluding their address, the lawmakers reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Osun State Government in “defence of democracy and the rule of law.”

Faridah Abdulkadiri

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