The seemingly unending Osun LG crisis took another turn on June 15, 2026, after the Federal High Court in Osogbo dismissed suit No. FHC/OS/CS/147/2025.
Recall that APC chairmen had filed the suit seeking tenure elongation to February 2028, but Justice Adefunmilola A. Demi-Ajayi dismissed the suit and awarded ₦200,000 in costs against the claimants, payable to the 1st to 4th and 6th defendants.
REACTIONS?
Direct Osun CP to withdraw security protection from APC chairmen, Adeleke tells IGP
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday, June 18, 2026 asked the Inspector General of Police to order the withdrawal of security protection for APC-aligned local government chairmen.
Speaking to journalists in Osogbo, Adeleke said the Federal High Court dismissed their application for tenure elongation, ruling they lacked legal standing to file the suit.
He noted the judgment upholds the constitution and Supreme Court precedent that tenure extension is unconstitutional.
The governor said any tenure the chairmen held expired in October 2025 and directed the Commissioner of Police to stop securing “illegal occupation” of council secretariats.
He urged all security agencies to support duly elected council officials.
Adeleke also called on United Bank for Africa to stop dealing with the affected chairmen on local government accounts.
Citing UBA’s affidavit that disputed funds remain intact, he insisted the bank must secure every kobo and allow only lawful signatories to operate the accounts so workers and pensioners can be paid.
Prevent APC chairmen from accessing council secretariats, NLC chairman tells NULGE members
The Nigeria Labour Congress, Osun State Council, has ordered members of the National Union of Local Government Employees to bar “sacked APC Yes/No Local Government Chairmen and their political appointees” from all council secretariats across the state.
In a statement signed by NLC Osun chairman, Christopher Arapasopo, the union said a recent court ruling made the chairmen’s claim to office “null, void, and of no legal consequence.”
The directive affects all 30 Local Government Areas, Local Council Development Areas, and Area Offices. NULGE members were told to lock the entrance gates against the affected chairmen, councillors, and appointees, secure key administrative offices and council property, remain calm and continue official duties without panic.
Workers were also advised to report any attempt to force entry to NLC leadership and relevant security agencies.
The NLC said the directive takes immediate effect and will remain in force until further notice from the Osun State Council.
Don’t allow ACCORD members to breach the law, APC tells security agencies
The All Progressives Congress in Osun State says it will approach the Court of Appeal over the latest development.
In a statement by Kola Olabisi, the party’s Director of Media and Information, APC argued that “the reinstated chairmen and councillors will test the judgment at the appropriate forum. Until all constitutional avenues are exhausted, they will continue to discharge their duties in office.”
The party also called on law enforcement agencies to caution members of the deregistered Accord Party, accusing them of trying to breach the rule of law and create a crisis over the matter.
APC urged its members and supporters to “remain resolute,” adding that it is determined to pursue every legal window available to ensure continuity of good governance at the grassroots level in the state.
TENSION?
The recent Federal High Court judgment has heightened tension in parts of Osun State.
On Friday, chairmen and councillors elected in the February 22, 2025 local government election stormed several council secretariats in Ila, Ife North, Ifedayo, and Ede South, among others.
However, some APC chairmen also resumed duties in Oriade, Obokun, Ife East, and other councils the same day.
Adegoke Ogunsola, speaking for the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, comprising chairmen elected under the All Progressives Congress, accused PDP chairmen of attempting a forceful takeover of council secretariats during a press conference in Osogbo on Friday.
Ogunsola said APC chairmen had filed a motion for stay of execution before the Federal High Court in Osogbo since September 2025, seeking clarification on when their tenure begins. The motion, he added, has been duly served on all respondents.
He insisted that PDP chairmen and councillors were not parties to the dismissed suit and that no court order exists granting them authority over the councils. According to him, the state government’s interpretation of the judgment is misleading, as there is no order authorizing any takeover of council secretariats.
“The police, which they planned to use to enforce what we consider a wrong judgment, are parties to the suit and are now aware of the appeal filed by the APC chairmen and councillors. The police have also been served with the motion for stay of execution. That is why they have reportedly warned that actions urged by PDP/Accord counsel could lead to a breakdown of law and order,” he said.
Ogunsola urged residents to ignore misinformation from the state government and go about their lawful business. “There is no order directing the individuals claiming to be chairmen and councillors to storm the councils,” he added.
He noted that a key issue before the Court of Appeal is the validity of the February 2025 local government elections, given that the previous officeholders’ tenure was still subsisting. “These recondite issues are already before the court. It is incumbent on government to respect the rule of law and await the outcome,” he concluded.
Oladele Bamiji, a Senior Special Adviser on Media to Governor Ademola Adeleke, said the resumption followed a judgment of the Federal High Court, which, according to him, affirmed the tenure of the current local government chairmen in the state.
According to Bamiji, PDP chairmen resumed in Ede North, Ede South, Iwo, Boripe and Ila local government areas.
He insisted that the PDP chairmen remain the legally recognised local government administrators in the state.
“They (PDP) are the legal chairmen, and they ought to be in the local government anyway, but for the backing of the immediate past Inspector General of Police and the abnormal situation we have in Osun State with the commissioner of police, APC has no business in the council.
“PDP chairmen returned to the council areas in Ede North, Ede South, Ifelodun, Ila, Iwo, Boripe and a few others. The PDP local government chairman remains the legally elected local government administrators in Osun State.
“Going by the last judgment by the Federal High Court in Osogbo, it becomes basically normal that those local government chairmen elected on the platform of the PDP will resume their duty to serve the people who elected them into office,” Bamiji said.
Commenting on the tension generated by the resumption, Bamiji said there was minimal resistance.
“To the best of my knowledge, there was not much resistance against our people resuming at the local government level.
“You know, aside from the High Court, there is this natural justice of conscience whereby the APC themselves know that they are only grandstanding over nothing. So there couldn’t have been any more violence because the APC on their side have no basis for any arguments.
“Our people, the PDP elected chairmen, will resume fully next Monday by the grace of God, and they will all be there to perform their duty for which they were elected. The PDP will not be obeying the law if the chairman refuses to resume work as ordered by the Federal High Court,” he added.
