Paragraph 1: The Genesis of the Conflict
The political landscape of Osun State, Nigeria, has been embroiled in a fierce power struggle between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), stemming from a dispute over the legitimacy of local government chairmen. The conflict ignited when APC members, citing a Court of Appeal judgment, attempted to reinstate former local government chairmen who had been previously dismissed. This move was met with staunch resistance from the PDP, leading to violent clashes and escalating tensions between the two parties. The PDP accused the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, of colluding with the APC to enforce a "non-existent" court order and destabilize the state.
Paragraph 2: PDP’s Accusations and Allegations of a Coup Plot
The PDP, led by its state chairman, Sunday Bisi, vehemently condemned the IGP’s deployment of Special Forces to escort the reinstated chairmen into local government offices. Bisi characterized this action as a "blatant coup" and a component of a larger scheme to assassinate Governor Ademola Adeleke. He further accused the IGP of betraying the governor’s trust, claiming that security reinforcements intended for a different purpose were misused to facilitate the APC’s takeover of local government councils. The PDP framed the APC’s actions as a deliberate attempt to undermine Governor Adeleke’s administration since their electoral defeat in 2022, warning the IGP against enabling violence and chaos.
Paragraph 3: Escalation of Violence and Condemnation by State Assembly
The attempted reinstatement of the APC-aligned chairmen triggered violent clashes between supporters of the two opposing parties, resulting in the tragic loss of six lives, including an APC chieftain. Despite the ensuing chaos, the chairmen and councillors resumed their duties in several local government areas, further exacerbating the already tense political climate. The Osun State House of Assembly, echoing the PDP’s concerns, condemned the APC’s forceful takeover of local government secretariats as undemocratic and a violation of the rule of law. Speaker Adewale Egbedun called for President Tinubu’s intervention and urged the IGP to evict the reinstated officials to restore faith in the impartiality of the police force.
Paragraph 4: APC’s Counter-Accusations and Justification for Reinstatement
In response to the PDP’s allegations, the APC spokesperson in Osun State, Kola Olabisi, accused the PDP chairman of launching unwarranted attacks on the IGP, President Tinubu, and former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola. Olabisi dismissed Bisi’s accusations as "crocodile tears" and countered that the PDP was responsible for orchestrating the violence that led to the death of the APC chairman of Irewole Local Government Council. He further alleged that PDP thugs attempted to assassinate other APC chieftains. Olabisi maintained that the APC was merely enforcing the Court of Appeal’s judgment, which had overturned a previous Federal High Court ruling that had initially sacked the local government chairmen and councillors.
Paragraph 5: Intervention by the House of Representatives and Formation of Investigative Committee
Recognizing the gravity of the situation in Osun State, the House of Representatives intervened, calling on the IGP and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to restore peace and order. A motion sponsored by the Osun State caucus in the House highlighted concerns about the escalating crisis and the potential for further violence. The House urged the federal government to take proactive measures to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control and emphasized the need for political actors to refrain from resorting to self-help. To address the crisis directly, the House formed an ad-hoc committee to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Paragraph 6: Actions of Reinstated Chairmen and Future Implications
The reinstated local government chairmen, speaking through the chairman of Ifedayo Local Government, Abiodun Idowu, took immediate action by freezing council accounts and advising the Osun State Government and the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to postpone the upcoming local government elections, arguing that there were no vacancies in the councils. Idowu announced plans to reabsorb teachers and health workers who had been previously dismissed by Governor Adeleke, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the welfare of citizens. The chairmen’s actions, coupled with the ongoing political tensions and the impending investigation by the House of Representatives, suggest that the conflict in Osun State is far from resolved and may continue to shape the state’s political landscape in the foreseeable future.
