The Member representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Oluwole Oke, has issued a public appeal to Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, urging him to cease what he described as political blackmail against President Bola Tinubu, former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, the Attorney General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
In a strongly worded statement on Wednesday, Hon. Oke who recently distanced himself from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused the Adeleke-led administration of deliberately disregarding a valid Court of Appeal judgement that reinstated elected All Progressives Congress (APC) local government officials.
He contended that this refusal has led to undue hardship for civil servants and disrupted the local government structure in the state.
“I spoke to you and advised you on what to do on the Court of Appeal judgment reinstating elected APC council chairmen, vice chairmen, and councillors, but you ignored me,” Oke said, alleging that the governor had been misled by his legal team.
“Only an illiterate lawyer will advise you contrary to what the Court of Appeal ruled—that PDP/OSSIEC approached a wrong court,” he added.
READ ALSO: Crisis brews in Osun PDP as Oke accuses Adeleke of neglecting Ijesa North
Oke argued that the opportunity for the state government to appeal or seek a stay of execution has elapsed, insisting that the APC would not support any further legal action at this stage.
He urged Adeleke to direct local government staff under the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) to resume cooperation with the reinstated APC officials until their terms conclude.
He further suggested that the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) should either conduct fresh elections within 180 days or compensate the affected APC officials for the remainder of their three-year tenures.
In a reconciliatory tone, Oke acknowledged the plight of PDP chairmanship aspirants who suffered financial losses due to the aborted elections.
READ ALSO: Appeal court dismisses APC bid to relist Osun LG election appeal
“Some borrowed owo isobo, sold their properties and are now suffering hopelessly,” he lamented, proposing that they be integrated into government as Special Assistants or Senior Special Assistants.
Meanwhile, the Osun State House of Assembly has cautioned against any attempt to divert local government funds into private accounts, following reports that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may be finalising such plans. Speaker Adewale Egbedun warned that any unauthorised disbursement would violate due process and trigger grave consequences.
The Assembly affirmed that only designated civil servants namely, the Directors of Finance and Administration are authorised to manage council funds. Legislators also raised concerns about individuals allegedly storming local council offices armed, in a bid to create chaos.
Referencing Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution, lawmakers reiterated that only the House of Assembly has the authority to legislate for the peace and order of the state, and that the October 2022 local government elections previously declared null and void by a Federal High Court in Osogbo remain unlawful, despite the recent Appeal Court ruling.
Adding to the controversy, the APC in Osun State, through its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, condemned the PDP caucus in the House of Representatives for what it described as interference in local government matters. Olabisi reaffirmed the supremacy of the 10 February 2025 Appeal Court decision, calling it binding and irrevocable.
He also challenged the PDP caucus to account for constituency funds before involving themselves in the allocation of council resources.
As tensions escalate between both parties, the fate of Osun’s local government administration remains in limbo, pending further legal and political resolution.
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