Osun LG Crisis: Police Step in to Restore Peace After Court Ruling

Tensions over control of local government councils in Osun State escalated on Thursday as rival groups maintained their positions despite a Federal High Court ruling in Osogbo that denied the reliefs sought by the APC-elected council chairmen.

Following the judgement, the state government sought police protection for chairmen elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to resume their duties at the Councils, while the All Progressives Congress, APC, urged security agencies to prevent what it described as an unlawful takeover of council secretariats.

The APC had indicated its intention to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal and had therefore requested the Police to desist from assisting to execute the judgment. “We respectfully urge you and your good offices to refrain from taking any step towards the execution of the judgment, as such execution will undermine the pending judicial process at the Court of Appeal and occasion a grave miscarriage of justice.”

The PDP, on the other hand, submits that the intention to file an appeal against the judgement does not amount to a stay of execution of the judgement.

The June 15, 2026 judgment of the Federal High Court in Osogbo dismissed a suit filed by chairmen elected under the APC in the October 15, 2022 local government election and rejected their request for tenure elongation.

In a letter dated June 18, 2026 and addressed to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone XI Headquarters, Osogbo, counsel to the Osun State Government and the local government areas, Oluwabusola Oluwaniyi, requested police protection for officials elected in the February 22, 2025 local government election to enable them to resume office.

The government also urged the police to remove APC chairpersons currently occupying council secretariats across the state, arguing that the Federal High Court had dismissed all the reliefs sought by the officials, including prayers to continue in office and requests restraining their removal.

According to the letter, Governor Ademola Adeleke directed security agencies to ensure the safety of local government staff and facilitate the resumption of officials elected in the 2025 poll. The government maintained that there was no court order staying the judgment or restraining its enforcement.

The letter stated that, “All the reliefs specifically sought by them were expressly refused by the court, and their originating summons was dismissed in its entirety. The filing of an appeal did not amount to a stay of execution.”

However, the APC warned against any attempt to enforce the judgment while an appeal process was underway.

In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the APC alleged that PDP and Accord Party supporters planned to invade council secretariats from Friday. The party urged the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies to remain alert, arguing that the legal process was still ongoing after the affected chairmen filed a notice of appeal.

“It is the law that once an appeal and an application for stay of execution of a judgment have been filed, no party is allowed to proceed with the execution of such a judgment,” the APC stated.

The party urged security agencies to hold Governor Adeleke and labour leaders responsible for any breakdown of law and order, warning that forceful attempts to take control of the councils could spark unrest across the state.

Kunle Adegoke (SAN), counsel to the APC chairmen, wrote to the Inspector-General of Police in Abuja, stating that his clients had filed a notice of appeal and an application to stay execution of the Federal High Court judgment.

In the June 17, 2026 letter, Adegoke said the appeal was filed at the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, on June 16, alongside a motion for stay of execution filed the same day at the Federal High Court.

Police Urges Both Camps to Maintain Law and Order

In a statement on Friday, the police urged the two parties to follow due process in asserting their positions. The statement reads: “Recent Federal High Court Judgement in Osogbo Regarding Local Government.

“The Osun State Police Command is aware and has taken note of the recent judgement delivered by the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo concerning the local government dispute between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“The Command is fully aware of the implications of this judgement and is closely monitoring the conduct, statements, and actions of all parties.

“We wish to reiterate that there is a clearly laid-down legal process for the enforcement of court judgements. The rule of law remains the cornerstone of our democratic society, and it is imperative that all parties adhere strictly to the established legal procedures in seeking to enforce the said judgement.

“The Command emphatically warns that, there will be no room for self-help/taking law into your own hands or extrajudicial actions. Specifically, we caution against any form of forceful takeover of Local Government premises, offices, or properties, as such actions are unlawful and counterproductive.

“We urge all political actors, their supporters, and the general public to remain calm and law-abiding and maintain the peace. All grievances and enforcement actions should be channelled through the appropriate legal and judicial mechanisms.

“The Command has been placed on heightened alert to ensure that law and order are maintained throughout the jurisdiction. The Command will not hesitate to take decisive action against any individual or group that attempts to disrupt the peace or violate the law.

“All parties concerned have been duly advised. We assure the public of our unwavering commitment to ensuring a peaceful environment where the rule of law prevails”

The statement was signed by DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Police Command.

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