The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on Governor Ademola Adeleke to comply with a recent Court of Appeal judgment reinstating sacked council chairmen and councillors across the state.
Speaking at a press conference in Osogbo on Sunday, APC State Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, criticized the governor’s reaction to the ruling, accusing him of attempting to undermine the judiciary while seeking public sympathy.
Lawal emphasized the clarity of the court’s decision and warned against actions that could incite socio-political unrest.
“We have invited you today to address the Court of Appeal judgment regarding the sacked elected council officials. Their mandate has been rightfully restored, and Governor Adeleke must act in accordance with the law,” Lawal stated.
He advised the governor to prioritize adherence to the constitution rather than engaging in “political games.”
“As a responsible party, we pursued legal means to seek justice. Now is the time to uphold the rule of law,” he added.
The party’s legal adviser, Barrister Adegoke Ogunsola, accused the Adeleke administration of deliberately misinterpreting the court’s decision to serve its political interests.
“The governor is assuming the role of the judiciary by attempting to interpret the judgment in his favor. His accusations against the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, and President Bola Tinubu are baseless,” Ogunsola said.
He urged security agencies to remain vigilant and prevent any unrest triggered by misinformation.
Former Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Adebayo Adeleke Banik, and ex-Special Adviser to Oyetola, Jamiu Olawumi, joined the call for the governor to respect the court’s ruling.
They warned that Governor Adeleke would be held accountable for any political or civil disturbances resulting from the standoff.
In response, Governor Adeleke, during a world press conference on Sunday, alleged a plan by former governor Adegboyega Oyetola to forcefully seize control of local government councils using security operatives.
He described the situation as “a deliberate plot to create chaos and anarchy,” and reiterated that the Court of Appeal did not issue any consequential order for the reinstatement of the sacked officials.
“The request for reinstatement was declared an academic exercise by the Court of Appeal. No consequential order was given,” Adeleke said.
The governor also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and caution security agencies against executing what he described as “illegal directives.”
Amid the escalating political tension, the Osun State chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) directed their members to withdraw from local government secretariats starting Monday.
In separate statements, NLC Chairman Dr. Christopher Arapasopo and NULGE President Dr. Nathaniel Kehinde Intangible cited concerns for their members’ safety.
“The security of our members is paramount. All gates of local government secretariats should remain closed until further directive,” the statements read.
As the political standoff deepens, stakeholders have urged all parties to prioritize peace and uphold the rule of law to prevent the situation from degenerating into violence.
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