The political tension over control of local government councils in Osun State escalated on Thursday, as both the state government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) traded positions over who should occupy council secretariats.
The Osun State Government has called on the police to provide security for local government chairmen elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while the APC urged security agencies to block what it described as an illegal attempt to take over council offices.
The crisis follows a June 15, 2026 ruling of the Federal High Court in Osogbo, which dismissed a suit filed by APC-elected chairmen from the October 15, 2022 local government election and rejected their bid to extend their tenure.
In a letter dated June 18, 2026, addressed to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone XI in Osogbo, counsel to the Osun State Government and local councils, Oluwabusola Oluwaniyi, requested police protection for officials elected in the February 22, 2025 election to enable them assume office.
The state government also asked security agencies to remove APC officials currently occupying council secretariats, arguing that the court had dismissed all their claims, including attempts to remain in office and restraining their removal.
It maintained that no court order had suspended or halted the enforcement of the judgment, insisting that filing an appeal does not amount to a stay of execution.
The letter further stated that all reliefs sought by the APC officials were rejected outright by the court.
On the other hand, the APC warned against enforcing the judgment while the appeal process is still ongoing.
In a statement by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the party alleged that PDP and Accord Party supporters were planning to forcefully take over council secretariats from Friday.
The APC called on the police and other security agencies to remain alert, insisting that a notice of appeal had already been filed and that the legal process had not been concluded.
The party argued that once an appeal and an application for stay of execution are filed, no enforcement action should proceed until the court determines the matter.
It also urged security agencies to hold Governor Ademola Adeleke and labour leaders accountable in the event of any breakdown of law and order.
Meanwhile, counsel to the APC chairmen, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), wrote to the Inspector-General of Police, informing him that an appeal and a motion for stay of execution had been filed against the Federal High Court judgment.
In his letter dated June 17, 2026, he stated that the appeal was lodged at the Court of Appeal in Akure on June 16, while the stay application was filed at the Federal High Court the same day.
He urged the police to refrain from enforcing the judgment pending the outcome of the appeal process, warning that any action at this stage could undermine judicial proceedings.
