The national leadership of the Accord Party has called for the immediate evacuation of Local Government Area (LGA) secretariats in Osun State by chairmen and councilors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) who were recently sacked by judicial rulings.
The party described the continued occupation of these public buildings as an outrageous affront to Nigeria’s democratic principles and the rule of law.
The Accord Party’s demand stems from a series of court decisions that nullified the purported election of these APC officials.
The Federal High Court in Osogbo initially declared their election invalid in November 2022, citing flagrant violations of legal requirements.
This judgement was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal on 10 February 2025 and again on 13 June 2025. Adding to the legal woes, the tenure of these officials officially expired on 22 October 2025, leaving no basis for their continued presence in the secretariats.
The National Chairman of the Accord Party, Maxwell Mgbudem emphasised in the statement that there is “no justification whatsoever” for the sacked officials to remain in control of the LGAs. He accused them of being backed and protected by the police, likening the situation to that of a “Banana Republic” where the rule of law is disregarded and “might is right.”
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Mgbudem further characterised the occupation as “outrageous and a calculated assault on the nation’s hard-earned democracy,” warning that such actions undermine the foundations of Nigeria’s governance.
The ousted chairmen and councilors have recently approached the Federal High Court in an attempt to secure an extension of their expired tenure.
The Accord Party has sharply criticised this move, arguing that it represents a blatant disregard for judicial integrity.
“The politicians must have forgotten that the court is the temple of justice, and those who come to equity must come with clean hands,” the statement read.
The party labelled this legal manoeuvre as “forum shopping,” a deliberate delay tactic aimed at prolonging the “siege” on Osun’s LGA secretariats.
The Accord Party pointed out that neither the Nigerian Constitution nor the Electoral Act provides any provision for extending the tenure of elected officials under such circumstances.
“It is obvious that there is no place in the nation’s Constitution and Electoral Act that permits tenure extension for any elected official,” Mgbudem asserted.
He described the actions of these “anti-democratic forces” as a mockery of representative governance, vowing that it would be resisted by all who cherish democracy in Nigeria.
“We have a duty to safeguard our civil rule,” the statement added, underscoring the broader implications for the country’s political stability.
Beyond the demand for vacation, the Accord Party has called for the immediate release of N130 billion in statutory allocations to Osun State’s local governments, which it claims have been illegally withheld by the Federal Government.
The party argued that withholding these funds is “unfair and unjust,” as it hampers effective governance at the grassroots level the tier of government closest to the people.
Such financial restrictions, according to the Accord, exacerbate the challenges faced by local communities and stifle development initiatives.
In a direct appeal to law enforcement, the party urged the Inspector General of Police to withdraw protection from the “illegal occupants” of the LGA secretariats.
It highlighted that their presence is in clear contempt of court orders and judgements, as well as the expiration of their mandate, which the party dismissed as “delusional” and lacking any legal foundation.
The Accord Party insisted that the only lawful local government leaders in Osun State are the chairmen and councilors elected on 22 February 2025 and sworn in on 23 February 2025, following an order from the Osun State High Court.
These legitimate officials, the party said, deserve police protection to carry out their constitutional duties, alongside civil servants who have been chased away by the “desperate and expired politicians” long rejected by the people of Osun.
The statement also extended a call to President Bola Tinubu to intervene swiftly and restore order to grassroots governance in the state.
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“The need to restore order and democratic values in these Local Governments cannot be overemphasised,” it noted. The Accord Party condemned what it termed an “assault on the nation’s democracy by reactionary forces” intent on causing confusion and political upheaval, potentially leading to a declaration of a state of emergency in Osun.
Such tactics, the party warned, threaten the stability of the region and the entire federation.
In a note of commendation, the Accord Party praised Governor Ademola Adeleke for his handling of the crisis. It highlighted his “political sagacity, maturity, restraint and respect for the rule of law” amid provocations, rascality, and recklessness from the ex-APC chairmen, councilors, and their sponsors.
The party credited Adeleke’s leadership with transforming Osun State through progressive, people-oriented policies, suggesting that the ongoing disruptions are aimed at discrediting his administration.
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