Osun Crisis: NULGE Condemns APC Forceful Takeover Of LGAs

The Osun Stae chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, has condemned the forceful takeover of Local governments in the state by the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The Chairman of NULGE in the State of Living Spring, as the state is widely known, Dr. Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, made the position of the group known in a statement, saying APC’s action negates the due process and law.

The NULGE boss spoke amidst claims by ruling PDP state government and APC that the law is on their side over the controversial sack of local government chairmen in the state.

While the APC claimed that the Court of Appeal’s judgement einstated the sacked council chairmen and councilors elected during the tenure of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola; while the state government alleged their elections had been nullified by the Federal High Court in Osogbo.

The state has been on the edge in the quests by the parties to assert their court victories, the crisis has claimed some lives including  that of the chairman of Irewole Local Government Area, Aderemi Abbas, and six others this week.

According to the NULGE chairman, the APC supporters are the ones causing violence in the state in their quest to impose the sacked LGAs chairman, describing their act as a threat to democracy and peaceful co-existence of the people of the state.

He urged the APC to follow due process on the matter rather that causing violence and setting the state on the edge, adding that the situation could disrupt good governance and provison of essential services in the state.

Part of the statement, read, “It should be noted that Action Peoples Party, (APP) had received a judgement in a suit filed against the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), which was delivered on November 30th, 2022 at the Federal High Court, Osogbo, that nullified the October 2022 LG election, the seats of Chairmen and Councillors across Osun State are deemed vacant.”

“The invasion of local government secretariats by APC members is not only unlawful but also a dangerous precedent that undermines the rule of law.

“The proper channel for reinstating the sacked local government chairmen from the October 2022 election is through the courts, not through forceful occupation.”

The magazine reports that the governor of the state, Ademola Adeleke had in the course of the week accused the Minister of  Marine and Blue Economy of working with security agencies to cause mayhem in the state.