Tensions Rise In Osun As Elected Chairmen Sue Over Illegal Takeover Of Local Government Offices

Tensions Rise In Osun As Elected Chairmen Sue Over Illegal Takeover Of Local Government Offices

The newly elected local government chairmen and councillors in Osun State have filed a lawsuit at the Osun State High Court, Ikirun Division, seeking the removal of the former administration’s Yes/No local government chairmen and councillors, who have forcibly occupied council secretariats across the state…….READ MORE 

The legal action follows the February 22, 2025, local government elections conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), led by Barrister Hashim Abioye, which saw the emergence of newly elected chairmen and councillors.

However, the Yes/No chairmen, appointed under former Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s administration in 2022, have resisted the transition, forcibly taking control of all local government secretariats.

In a bid to prevent political unrest, Governor Ademola Adeleke has instructed the newly elected officials to refrain from confrontation and refrain from reclaiming their offices until the legal matter is resolved.

The elected officials, citing the illegal occupation of the secretariats, have turned to the judiciary, seeking their immediate eviction in line with Nigerian law.

The case also includes key security agencies as defendants, including the Inspector-General of Police, the Osun State Commissioner of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The court has scheduled the next hearing for April 15, 2025, and has approved a request for substituted service.

The Osun State chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has filed a separate lawsuit at the Ilesha Division of the Osun State High Court, citing the Yes/No chairmen’s occupation as a direct threat to the safety and operations of local government workers.

NULGE is demanding the immediate removal of the former officials, emphasizing the need to protect employees from potential harm while performing their duties.

The case has been adjourned to April 17, 2025, with the court also granting substituted service.

Amidst these ongoing legal battles, Governor Ademola Adeleke has urged all parties to remain calm and exercise restraint, reassuring the people of Osun State that the courts will ensure the removal of those unlawfully occupying the local government offices.