Heavily armed police officers were deployed to local government secretariats across Osun State on Tuesday following a Court of Appeal ruling in Akure.
The court upheld appeals by chairmen elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the October 15, 2022, local government elections, who had previously been removed by Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court in Osogbo in November 2022. The Appeal Court ruling, however, sided with the sacked officials.
The ruling sparked disagreements over its interpretation. APC members claimed it restored the removed officials to their positions, while the state government, through Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, insisted that the judgment did not reinstate them.
Alimi called on security agencies to prevent any disturbances to public order and protect residents’ lives and properties.
A correspondent reported seeing armed police officers stationed at various local government secretariats in Osogbo, Egbedore, and Ejigbo.
At the Olorunda Local Government Secretariat in Igbona, people continued to enter and exit as police officers checked those entering.
A similar security presence was observed at the Osogbo Local Government Secretariat in Oke Baale, with National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) officials assisting in identifying staff members.
At the Ejigbo Local Government Secretariat, sources reported that police arrived around 8:30 am, initially locking the gate before reopening it.
An anonymous NULGE official explained, “Police suddenly appeared at the entrance, and our colleagues contacted NULGE officials when they were blocked. Eventually, workers were allowed in. We were informed that the police were deployed because some people threatened to resume work.”
Osun State Police Command spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the deployment.
“We are acting to maintain law and order in light of the Appeal Court ruling regarding the recent local government election. Although we have not received an official court order, we are monitoring the situation,” Opalola stated.
Meanwhile, the state’s Attorney General, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, clarified that the Appeal Court ruling did not reinstate the dismissed chairmen.
“The court did not rule on the merits of the APC’s re-appeal. It only struck out the PDP’s case against OSSIEC due to a lack of cause of action at the time the case was filed. The Appeal Court never ruled that any chairman should return to office,” Jimi-Bada explained.
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