The Osun State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised an alarm over what it describes as the continued weaponization of the judiciary by the Governor Ademola Adeleke-led administration to terrorize elected Local Government officials.
The accusation comes just as the Osun State chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) resumed work on Monday under tight security, following an 11-month strike.
Addressing a press conference in Osogbo on Monday, the APC State Chairman, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, lambasted the PDP/Accord Party-led government for allegedly inflicting unnecessary pain on the grassroots populace and plunging the state into avoidable and irredeemable chaos.
Represented by the APC Director of Media and Information, Mogaji Kola Olabisi, Lawal accused the state government of ignoring appellate court rulings.
He cited the February 10, 2025, Court of Appeal judgment which nullified the sack of elected officers, a verdict he claimed was never appealed by the state.
Lawal further noted that on December 5, 2025, the Supreme Court struck out a suit filed by the Osun State Government, effectively validating the reinstatement of the APC Chairmen and Councillors.
“However, the State Government disdainfully refused to accept the verdict… claiming there was a lower court judgment in a sister case,” Lawal stated.
He alleged that the administration is now resorting to filing fresh suits in Magistrate Courts after failing at the Supreme Court, in a bid to stall access to local government funds.
Meanwhile, activities returned to the council secretariats on Monday as NULGE members resumed their duties. NigerianNewsDirect observed security personnel stationed at Osogbo and Olorunda local governments to maintain order.
The State NULGE President, Comrade Kehinde Nathaniel, commended the workers for their turnout but sounded a note of caution regarding the political leadership of the councils.
Nathaniel urged the APC chairmen to exercise patience, stating that the union is awaiting a Federal High Court judgment.
“I will use this opportunity to appeal to the APC to please wait outside and allow the Court to decide… We are working with the rule of law. As they have occupied the local government, we embrace them, but they cannot force us to do what we are not supposed to do. Since the court has not satisfied them as the political head of local government, doing anything with them now will be illegal,” the NULGE President said.
Pushing back against the confusion, the Osun State ALGON Chairman, Hon. Samuel Idowu Abiodun, described the multiple lawsuits by the Adeleke government as frivolous and embarrassing.
“Procurement of court orders everywhere is the major problem we have in Osun at the moment. The administration of Governor Adeleke has gone to several courts… even to Oyo State High Court. We are now hearing they have filed another case at the Magistrate’s Court after going up to the Supreme Court. This is just an attempt to stop development,” Abiodun stated.
Corroborating this stance, the APC Legal Adviser and Chairman of Irepodun Local Government Area, Hon. Adegoke Ogunsola, insisted that the APC officials are the legitimate occupants of the offices based on the latest Supreme Court judgment.
He accused the state government of citing court judgments out of context to mislead the public.
Conversely, the Vice Chairman of Osogbo Local Government, Hon. Latona Rasak, welcomed the returning workers, urging them to fast-track efforts to recover the time lost during the lengthy strike.
The press conference was attended by prominent party stakeholders, including former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye; former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Adebayo Adeleke; and former Commissioner for Information, Hon. Sunday Akere, among others.