Osogbo, Nigeria – A political storm is brewing in Osun State as Governor Ademola Adeleke and the All Progressives Congress (APC) trade accusations over an alleged plot to enforce a disputed court ruling on local government administration. The governor has accused former governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, of planning to destabilize the state by unlawfully reinstating sacked local government chairmen.
Adeleke’s Allegations: A Coup Against Democracy?
In a strongly worded press conference, Governor Adeleke alleged that Oyetola, in connivance with top security officials in the state, was orchestrating an illegal takeover of local government councils. He claimed that the former governor had been issuing illegal directives to the Osun State Commissioner of Police, the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Commandant of the Civil Defense Corps to forcibly reinstate sacked APC council chairmen.
Adeleke described the plot as “a fascist, anti-democratic agenda” and warned that any attempt to impose an unlawful court order could lead to chaos and bloodshed. He reaffirmed that the chairmen were removed before he assumed office, based on two separate Federal High Court judgments that nullified the 2022 local government elections conducted under Oyetola’s administration.
“The court rulings that sacked these chairmen remain valid, and the judgment that the APC is relying on contains no consequential order for reinstatement,” Adeleke stated. “The only legal recourse available to APC is to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court, not to resort to self-help and illegality.”
He further urged President Bola Tinubu, whom he described as a “true democrat,” to intervene and instruct security agencies not to take orders from Oyetola, emphasizing that the minister had no constitutional authority to issue directives to law enforcement.
Osun APC Hits Back: “Adeleke is Dodging the Legal Process”
In response, the Osun APC dismissed Adeleke’s claims as a diversionary tactic, accusing him of using blackmail and sentiment to avoid legal accountability.
Osun APC spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, maintained that the Court of Appeal had reinstated the dismissed council chairmen and that Adeleke had no choice but to comply with the ruling.
“The court has spoken, and those affected by Adeleke’s actions have been left out in the cold for too long,” Olabisi said. “Now that justice has been served, Oyetola, as a leader of the party, is committed to ensuring that the ruling is implemented.”
Denying any unlawful directives from Oyetola, Olabisi insisted that Adeleke should approach the Supreme Court if he was dissatisfied, rather than resorting to public outbursts.
“Adeleke should stop this baseless blackmail. The court’s decision stands, and as law-abiding citizens, we will ensure its implementation,” he added.
Rising Tensions Ahead of Monday Showdown
As both parties dig in, the standoff raises fears of possible confrontations on Monday when security agencies are allegedly expected to enforce the disputed court ruling. Governor Adeleke has warned that any attempt to forcibly take over the local government councils will not be tolerated, while the APC insists that the verdict must be implemented.
Political observers say the situation underscores the deep-rooted tensions between the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun and the opposition APC, with the legal and political battle likely to escalate in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Adeleke has called on the Nigerian Bar Association, legal experts, and the international community to scrutinize the court judgments and prevent any unconstitutional actions.
With both sides refusing to back down, the coming days will be crucial in determining whether Osun State will witness legal resolution or political turmoil.
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