By Ado Oyeyemi
The political tussle over the control of local government councils in Osun State escalated on Thursday as the state government and the All Progressives Congress separately sought the intervention of security agencies following a fresh court judgment on the matter.
The latest development followed a June 15 ruling by the Federal High Court in Osogbo, which dismissed a suit filed by chairmen elected on the platform of the APC during the October 15, 2022 local government election and rejected their request for an extension of tenure.
In response to the judgment, the Osun State Government wrote to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone XI, requesting security protection for officials elected during the February 22, 2025 local government poll to facilitate their assumption of office.
The letter, signed by counsel to the state government and the local government councils, Oluwabusola Oluwaniyi, also urged the police to remove APC-backed chairmen currently occupying council secretariats across the state.
According to the government, the court dismissed all reliefs sought by the APC chairmen, including requests to remain in office and orders restraining their removal.
The state government maintained that there was no subsisting court order preventing the enforcement of the judgment, stressing that the filing of an appeal did not automatically halt its implementation.
It further disclosed that Governor had directed security agencies to safeguard council workers and ensure a smooth resumption of officials elected in the 2025 local government election.
However, the APC cautioned against any move to enforce the judgment, insisting that the matter remained before the courts.
In a statement issued by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the opposition party alleged that supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Accord Party were planning to occupy council secretariats across the state.
The APC called on security agencies to prevent any action that could trigger a breakdown of law and order, arguing that the legal process was yet to be concluded.
According to the party, the affected chairmen had already filed a notice of appeal and an application seeking a stay of execution of the judgment.
The APC maintained that implementing the ruling while the appeal process was ongoing would amount to disregarding due process.
The party also urged security agencies to remain vigilant and hold relevant stakeholders accountable should any disturbance arise from attempts to take over the council secretariats.
Meanwhile, counsel to the APC chairmen, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), has formally notified the Inspector-General of Police of the legal steps taken by his clients.
In a letter dated June 17, Adegoke disclosed that a notice of appeal was filed before the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, on June 16, alongside a motion seeking a stay of execution at the Federal High Court.
He urged the police to refrain from taking any action that could amount to enforcing the judgment pending the determination of the appeal and the application for stay of execution.
Adegoke warned that any premature execution of the court ruling could undermine the ongoing judicial process and potentially result in a miscarriage of justice.
The dispute has continued to generate tension across the state, with both parties insisting on the legitimacy of their positions while awaiting further judicial pronouncements on the matter.
