Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has called on the Inspector General of Police to withdraw security protection from the All Progressives Congress (APC)-aligned local government chairmen following a fresh judgment by the Federal High Court in Osogbo.
Speaking with journalists on Tuesday, Adeleke said the court dismissed an application seeking tenure extension for the chairmen, ruling that they lacked the legal standing to institute the suit. According to the governor, the judgment reinforces constitutional provisions and previous judicial decisions declaring tenure elongation unconstitutional.
The governor congratulated the elected local government chairmen, insisting that the ruling validated their positions.
“The dismissal of the elongation request conforms with the stipulations of the constitution. The judgment further validates the precedent set by the Supreme Court ruling that tenure elongation is unconstitutional,” Adeleke said.
He maintained that the court held that the chairmen’s tenure had expired in October 2025 and urged the police to stop providing security cover for what he described as the “illegal occupation” of council secretariats.
“I specifically direct the Commissioner of Police to stop providing further security cover for the illegal occupation of the council secretariats by the sacked chairmen. All law enforcement agencies should support the restoration of elected council officials,” the governor stated.
Adeleke also called on United Bank for Africa (UBA) to halt all dealings with the affected chairmen concerning local government accounts, insisting that public funds must be protected and operated only by legally recognised signatories.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress, Osun State Council, directed members of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) to prevent the affected APC chairmen and their appointees from accessing council secretariats.
In a statement signed by the NLC chairman, Christopher Arapasopo, the union described the claims of the chairmen to office as “null, void and of no legal consequence” following the court judgment.
The union ordered workers across all local government areas and council development areas in the state to lock the entrances of council secretariats and safeguard government properties, while advising workers to remain calm and continue their official duties.
However, the APC rejected the development and announced plans to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
In a statement issued by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the party maintained that the reinstated chairmen and councillors would continue to perform their constitutional duties pending the outcome of the appeal.
The party also urged security agencies to prevent any breakdown of law and order, insisting that it would pursue all legal avenues to secure what it described as the continuity of good governance at the grassroots level in Osun State.