Osun LG Crisis: APC Orders Reinstated Chairmen, Councillors to Resume Monday

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged its reinstated chairmen and councillors to resume for duty on Monday, even as it debunked fake news alleging that the leadership of the party had directed its elected local government chairmen and councillors not to resume in their various local government council areas on Monday.

In the same breath, the national leadership of APC, has described the swearing-in of the ‘newly elected’ local government officials by Adeleke as provocative and a threat to peace and safety of the state.

In a statement by the APC Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the APC noted that, “We want to inform, the authentic Court of Appeal-reinstated local government council chairmen and councillors that no such information came from the esteemed leadership of our party.

“It is the handiwork  of the reactionary elements, who thought they could realise their inordinate political ambition through the dissemination of fake story to confuse our focused elected council bosses and chiefs.

“We want to make it abundantly clear that it is imperative for the elected APC local government chairmen and councillors not to cease from  resumption at their various local government council areas in order to continue to serve the deprived people at the grassroots level of government.

“The APC is a party founded on the rules of law which is the reason the Court of Appeal judgement given at the Akure Division, Akure, Ondo State, on the 10th of February, 2025, is the basic instrument of your reinstatement.

“We are not unaware of the fact that some disgruntled elements who are emboldened by the lawless government of the day in Osun State are planning to invade the local government council areas across the state.”

“We would like to enjoin the state Commissioner of Police, the State Director of the DSS and the State Comptroller of the Civil Defence to be on watch out with a view to keeping peace in all the local government council areas in the state.”

In the same breath, the national leadership of APC, has described the swearing in of ‘newly elected’ local government officials by Adeleke as provocative and a threat to peace and safety of the state.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, In a statement, said the purported fresh election conducted by Adeleke and the PDP was nothing but a disgraceful sham,  illegal, and unconstitutional.

He described it as violently contemptuous of the valid and subsisting judgment of the Court of Appeal, and of no effect whatsoever.

Morka noted that APC exercised utmost respect for the adverse decision of the Federal High Court and demonstrated mature restraint in the face of Adeleke’s illegal and unconstitutional appointment of caretaker committees in the state while it diligently pursued its appeal against the decision of the Federal High Court that has now been nullified by the Court of Appeal.

He said APC did not resort to violence or self-help in the matter but submitted to the rule of law and the authority of the courts.

The ruling party wondered why it was difficult for Adeleke, who swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, to abide by a valid order of the Court of Appeal reinstating the sacked local government officials.

“Why is the Governor and his PDP vehement on taking matters into their own hands in disregard of a valid judgement of the Court of Appeal?  Why is Governor Adeleke so desperate and determined to incite anarchy in Osun state with impunity?

“And why is the Governor so unaffected by the already tragic loss of lives of innocent citizens of the state in reckless breach of his duty to protect lives and property of all citizens in the state?”

Morka described the conduct of local government elections last Saturday as a reckless waste of public funds, and an irresponsible  incitement to further violence in an already volatile atmosphere in the state.

“Breaking news reports of the purported swearing in of “newly elected” local government officials by Governor Adeleke constitutes needless political provocation and a clear renewed threat to the peace and safety of lives in the state.

“Governor Adeleke is under constitutional responsibility to respect and uphold the laws of our land, including giving effect to binding court judgements notwithstanding his personal or partisan political wishes or preferences.

“As he was quick to issue an executive order sacking the local government officials based on the Federal High Court judgment of 2022, Governor Adeleke is under clear constitutional obligation to similarly comply with the Court of Appeal judgment reinstating the same officials.

“The sensible and democratic remedy available to Governor Adeleke is to exercise his government’s right to appeal to the Supreme Court in the matter. 

“We urge Governor Adeleke to immediately end his illegal and anti-democratic push for fresh local government election, and abide by the valid judgment of the Court of Appeal in the matter.”

Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale and Yinka Kolawole

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