No fewer than five persons lost their lives in the violence that erupted following attempt to take over local government secretariats by political functionaries of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday in Osun State.
Prominent among those who died in the crossfire by thugs of rival APC and ruling Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) was former chairman of Irewole local government, Ikire, Mr Remi Abass.
Others, according to Osun State Commissioner for Protocols and Governmental Affairs, Soji Ajeigbe are Damilare Oloyede and Taye, who were allegedly shot dead in Iragbiji and Boripe local government areas of the state.
Ajeigbe, while addressing newsmen in Iragbiji, alleged that Damilare and Taye who were PDP members, were killed by agents of the opposition APC around Boripe local government area secretariat in Iragbiji.
Also briefing the press at the secretariat of APC in Osogbo, Alhaji Jamiu Olawumi accused members of the ruling PDP of killing three members the APC including Abass, a yet-to-be identified Councillor in Olaoluwa local government and another member of APC from Isokan local government.
Olawumi also affirmed that no fewer than fifteen of the Court of Appeal reinstated council chairmen assumed office by 9am while by 9:30am, virtually all other council chairmen assumed office only to be chased out by hoodlums of PDP later.
APC vowed that all elected party functionaries reinstated by the Appeal Court verdict of 10th of February, 2025 will continue to go to office as ordered by the appellate court.
Violence broke out in virtually all the local government areas across the state earlier on Monday as the sacked council chairmen attempted to assume office following the court verdict.
LEADERSHIP understands that both parties have been laying claims to contradictory interpretations of court processes with the APC claiming that the appeal court reinstated the local government chairmen elected under former Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
The ruling party has however, denied this claim, insisting that their reinstatement was not pronounced by the appellate court.
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