Information reaching NewsClick Nigeria has it that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has assumed control of at least 14 out of the 30 local government secretariats in Osun state.
According to reports and eyewitnesses, some of the LG secretariats where APC chairpersons and councillors returned to work on Wednesday are Ila, Ede South, Ede North, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Boripe, Oriade, and Obokun.
On Monday, violence broke out at some LG secretariats in Osun after a clash between supporters of the APC and those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Some persons were killed during the clash, including Remi Abbas, a former chairman of Irewole LGA.
The crisis in the state stems from a judgment of the court of appeal on sacked council chairpersons and councillors.
The PDP claimed that the February 10 judgment of the court of appeal in Akure, Ondo state, did not reinstate the sacked chairpersons and councillors who were elected in 2022, while the APC insists that they were reinstated.
Ademola Adeleke, governor of the state, had asked residents to stay away from local government secretariats and allow security agencies to protect the facilities.
Adeleke had also blamed Gboyega Oyetola, his predecessor, for the mayhem and chaos, while asking President Bola Tinubu to “call his nephew to order”.
“The bone of contention is the brazen effrontery to return to office council chairmen sacked by a subsisting court judgment using a different court decision, which has no consequential order,” Adeleke said.
The governor also urged the president to direct Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA), and Lateef Fagbemi, attorney general of the federation (AGF), to resolve the crisis.
Reacting to the development, the Speaker of the House of Assembly while addressing journalists described the action as illegal and an affront to the rule of law.
“Today, members of the opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), forcefully broke into local government secretariats across the state. This unlawful invasion is not only a direct attack on our democratic institutions but also a clear violation of the rule of law and a threat to public peace and order.
“Even more disturbing is the fact that security agencies, who are meant to uphold the law, were present while these illegal acts were being carried out. This is unjust, unlawful, and unacceptable. Law enforcement agencies must never be seen aiding and abetting criminal activities”, he said.
