Tension at OSUN as APC accused the plan to return the PDP Council Officer

The Osun State Chapter from the Congress of All Progressive (APC) has increased the alarm for what is described as a towering political crisis, accusing the state government of plans to install a board official selected in the local government poll on February 21, although the court orders continue to return the chairman and members of the APC council who were previously fired.

During the press briefing at Osogbo on Sunday, former information commissioner, Mr. Sunday Akere, who spoke in the name of the party’s leadership, accused that the government of Adeleke Governor Adeleke planned to force the order of the Democratic Party Council (PDP) which was only elected on April 17.

Akere, joining the leading APC figures including former lawmakers of Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, former Commissioner for the Regional Government Adebayo Adeleke, and former special advisor Jamiu Olawumi, warned that the government’s strategy involving the slaughtering states that floated throughout the state that was of no use.

He further claimed that the administration led by the PDP was determined to mobilize Mandamus’s orders to enable the Chairperson of the PDP to take a position at the Regional Government Secretariat which is currently under the control of APC officials, who were recovered again with the court’s decision. According to him, this step might trigger confrontation of violence and damage fragile peace in the state.

In response, the spokesman for Governor Adeleke, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, rejected APC’s accusations as a calculated effort to distract from his own legal issues. He described the claim of opposition as an unfounded extortion, accusing the party to hold fast to illegal power at the grassroots level.

Rasheed revealed that APC currently faces three separate lawsuits for its ongoing occupation from the Council Secretariat. He explained that the PDP elected officials under the umbrella of the Nigerian Regional Government Association (Algon), the United Staff of the Regional Government (Nulge), and the Party of All People (APPs) had all challenged the legitimacy of the APC Regional Government after the cancellation of the court against the October 2022 election.

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He clarified that Governor Adeleke did not start any legal action against the council led by APC. Conversely, the governor has instructed the newly elected PDP officials to remain obedient to the law and avoid actions that can incite violence.

However, Mr. Akere insisted that the action of the state government was an effort to override the legal process. He warned that all efforts to return PDP officials through judicial shortcuts would be greatly opposed by APC, who he said was ready to defend the chairman who was legally recognized.

“The state government relies on what we consider to be a backdoor arrangement to hold a judicial coup on April 17,” Akere said. “They intend to present PDP officials who have been absent from the council to judges who are obedient, looking for Mandamus’s orders, and using this to make a strong takeover from the secretariat with the help of operations and amotekun criminals.”

He added that local government workers, who have moved away from work since the dispute began, would be used to legitimize the takeover, the situation he warned could disrupt the country.

Akere also revealed that APC had submitted a petition to the National Judicial Council (NJC), accusing the interference of the judiciary and bias which was driven by the current government.

Rasheed, however, stated that APC’s accusations were not only based but also deflection of the legal consequences of the court’s decision disobedience. He insisted that PDP had chosen to pursue justice in a legitimate way and accused the opposition of planning to incite violence with the guise of political resistance.

“APC must focus on defending themselves in court rather than threatening chaos,” Rasheed said. “Governor Adeleke remains committed to the rule of law and good government, and will not be dragged into legal and political matters caused by themselves.”

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