APC Protests As Adeleke Suspends OSIEC Chairman, Seals 3 Monarchs’ Palaces

Governor of Osun State Ademola Adeleke has directed the immediate suspension of the chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Mr. Segun Oladitan and six members of the commission.

This was contained in a statement signed yesterday by the secretary to the state government (SSG), Hon. Teslim Igbalaye.

Other members of the commission suspended by the governor were Mr. Yusuf Oyeniran, Alhaja Suibat Adubi, Prince Yinka Ajiboye, Mrs. Abosede Omibeku, Mr. Dosu Gidigbi and Mr. Wahab Adewoyin.

The statement reads: “This suspension is sequel to several petitions bothering on financial impropriety, dereliction of duty, absenteeism and abuse of office against the said chairman and members of the commission.

“Pending the outcome of investigation into the allegations against the suspended chairman and members of the commission, the secretary to the commission shall hold forth in running the affairs of the commission”, the statement affirmed.

In the same vein, Governor  Adeleke ordered that all appointments of traditional rulers made by the immediate past administration of Adegboyega Oyetola be reviewed to ensure strict compliance with due process of chieftaincy declarations and native law, custom and tradition relating to such chieftaincies.

This directive was contained in six Executive Orders  the governor issued yesterday, which were made available to journalists in a statement signed by Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.

Subsequently, the governor ordered the Akinrun of Ikirun, Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo to vacate their palaces, ordering security agencies to take charge of the palaces during the period of the review.

Meanwhile, Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has appealed to all founding fathers, elders and opinion moulders in the state to call the new governor to order before he turned the state to a battle ground through his Executive Orders.

The APC in a statement signed in Osogbo on Monday by the former adviser to the immediate past governor Adegboyega Oyetola, Oluomo Sunday Akere, said from the look of things, the PDP administration had nothing to offer other than pains, harassment, intimidation, foisting of draconian rules, playing to the gallery and fear on the people of the state.

The party noted that for a governor to dabble into traditional matters the way Adeleke did amounts to nothing but an abuse of power and brazen politicising of traditional institutions.