Skip to main content

Ten (10) Reasons Behind the Rising Tension Over Osun LG Secretariats Crisis

INTRO: The political atmosphere in Osun State is currently charged, following allegations and counter-allegations between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over control of local government (LG) secretariats. The crisis, centered on who rightfully occupies the LG councils, has sparked warnings of potential unrest. 
 
The reasons behind the rising tension over Osun LG secretariats crisis are:

1.    Planned Reinstatement of PDP LG Officials: The APC has accused the state government of plotting to reinstate PDP-elected local government chairmen and councillors, elected in the February 21, 2025 election. They claim the plan is to use a court order to forcefully install these officials into the councils.

2.    Legal Backing Through Court Mandamus: The APC alleges that the Adeleke administration is relying on an expected order of mandamus from an Osun High Court sitting in Ikirun, which may be issued on April 17, 2025, to legitimize the reinstatement of PDP officials into LG offices currently occupied by APC members.

3.    Use of Amotekun and Alleged Thugs: The opposition party claims that the state government is planning to use Amotekun Corps and armed thugs to forcefully occupy the council secretariats. This has raised fears of violence and lawlessness across the state.

4.     APC’s Control Over Secretariats Backed by Court: APC argues that their chairmen were reinstated by a court ruling and therefore occupy the LG offices legally. Any move to unseat them is seen as undermining the judiciary and constitutional order.

5.    Ongoing Legal Battles and Multiple Court Cases: There are three lawsuits pending on the matter — two against APC by PDP elected officials and local government workers, and one by the All Peoples Party against the APC. This legal tangle adds further tension to an already volatile situation.

6.    Accusations of Judicial Manipulation:  APC has described the anticipated court move as a “judicial coup,” claiming that the governor is manipulating the judiciary to achieve political control at the local level.

7.    Governor Adeleke’s Denial and Counter-Accusations: The governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, dismissed the APC's claims as blackmail, insisting that Adeleke has not initiated any court case and is committed to upholding the rule of law.

8.    Warning of Political Crisis:  APC leaders warn that any forced takeover of the LG secretariats could spark widespread unrest and political instability in Osun, especially if accompanied by violence.

9.    Alleged Bias in Judiciary: The APC has petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC), alleging bias and “judicial rascality” from some members of the bench, deepening mistrust in the legal process.

10.    Struggle for Grassroots Political Control: At its core, the battle is about control over grassroots governance. The party that holds the LG councils wields significant influence over local administration, resources, and upcoming electoral campaigns.









Comments

Popular posts from this blog