Some chairmen and councillors elected in the October 15, 2022 elections resumed offices and took over secretariats of local governments in Osun State on Wednesday.
LEADERSHIP recalls that Governor Ademola Adeleke had directed on Monday, that people should stay clear of local government secretariats following the violence that erupted over attempt to occupy the secretariats by political functionaries of the opposition party.
However, despite the Governor’s directive, about fourteen (14) local government secretariats were occupied by chairmen and councillors elected on the platform the All Progressives Congress (APC).
They hinged their resumption on the February 10, 2025 contentious verdict of the Court of Appeal which both parties have interpreted differently.
Responding to the development, Osun State House of Assembly descibed the takeovers as unlawful.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, the Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Adewale Egbedun described the development added that the action amounted to blatant disregard for the rule of law.
Egbedun also accused members of the opposition APC of forcefully breaking into local government secretariats across the state, maintaining that the invasion is not only a direct attack on 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”.
Flanked by principal officers of the House, Egbedun noted that consequent upon the violence that erupted on Monday, Governor Adeleke issued a directive that all individuals, regardless of political affiliation, must stay clear of the local government secretariats to prevent further crisis and uphold law and order.
He added that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state fully complied with the directive because they prioritise peace, stability, and democratic governance over political confrontation.
The Speaker warned all political actors to desist from unconstitutional acts and pursue their grievances through legitimate legal channels rather than resorting to violence, intimidation, or force.
He called on the Inspector General of Police “to ensure that all illegal occupants of the local government secretariats are evicted immediately and effect the arrest and prosecution of all individuals involved in the unlawful invasion.”
The Speaker who insisted that the Saturday 22nd of February local government election remains sacrosanct, calling on all eligible voters in the state to come out en-masse and freely exercise their democratic rights to vote for their preferred candidates.
