…Seek eviction from LG secretariats

By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

The Osun State Government and the state chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) have taken legal action against the reinstated local government chairmen and councillors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), seeking their eviction from various council secretariats across the state.

The newly elected local government chairmen and councillors, produced from the February 22, 2025, local government elections, have approached the Osun State High Court, Ikirun Division, praying for an order mandating the APC chairmen and councillors to vacate the council offices they allegedly occupied illegally.

It would be recalled that following the declaration of the local government election results by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), chaired by Hashim Abioye, the reinstated APC chairmen forcefully took over the secretariats, triggering political tension that led to the loss of lives and destruction of properties.

In response, the state government has urged the court to issue an order compelling the APC chairmen to vacate the offices.

The suit also joins the Inspector-General of Police, the Osun State Commissioner of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The case has been adjourned to April 15, 2025, for further hearing, with the court granting an order for substituted service.

Similarly, the Osun State chapter of NULGE has filed a separate suit at the Ilesa Division of the Osun State High Court over the forceful invasion and occupation of the local government secretariats by the APC chairmen and councillors reinstated under the previous administration of Gboyega Oyetola.

The union argues that the continued occupation of the council offices poses a threat to the local government workforce across the state. The matter has also been adjourned to April 17, 2025, for hearing, with the court approving substituted service.

Meanwhile, Governor Ademola Adeleke has called for calm, urging all parties to exercise restraint while awaiting the court’s decision.