The Coalition for Good Governance, a civil advocacy group in Osun State, has raised alarm over what it describes as an orchestrated attempt to mislead the public and manipulate judicial outcomes concerning the lingering local government crisis in the state.
In a strongly worded press statement signed by its convener, Adedokun Ismail, the group condemned a recent press conference held in Abuja by a group known as the Transparency Centre Network (TCN), led by Ayuba Ahmed. The coalition accused the TCN of being a “sponsored outfit” of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), allegedly working to pressure the Federal Government and judiciary into adopting what it called a “self-serving interpretation” of recent court rulings.
“The TCN and its sponsors are meddlesome interlopers attempting to impose the opinion of their legal counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), on both the President and the judiciary,” the statement read. “Obedience to court orders is a sacred constitutional duty, but it must be based on valid and final interpretations not political convenience.”
The coalition insisted that the judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on February 10, 2025, which reinstated local government chairmen and councillors elected in October 2022 under the All Progressives Congress (APC), remains binding and unchallenged at the Supreme Court.
The group expressed concern over what it called the “desperation” of Governor Ademola Adeleke and his supporters to allegedly reinterpret the appellate court’s more recent ruling of June 13, 2025, to serve political ends.
Describing threats issued by the TCN including a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to act on their demands as “bullying,” the Coalition vowed to resist such pressure and warned of a potential backlash if such agitation continues.
“We will meet their protests with a larger, more peaceful show of numbers,” he said, citing a prior incident that allegedly resulted in the death of a local government chairman in Ikire during a previous PDP-led protest.
The coalition called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police, the Attorney General of the Federation, and other key government institutions to ignore what it termed as “sponsored cries” and allow the due process of law to prevail.
“Only a decision of the Supreme Court can alter the current status quo, which validates the tenure of the democratically elected local government officials from 2022,” Adedokun added.
Reaffirming its commitment to peace and the rule of law, the Coalition for Good Governance urged residents of Osun State to remain vigilant and not be swayed by politically motivated narratives.
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