A coalition of civil society organisations in Osun State has raised a serious alarm, accusing the state police command of actively supporting what they term the illegal occupation of local government council secretariats by sacked chairmen and councillors.
CSOs Issue Ultimatum, Threaten Public Wrath
The Network of Civil Society Groups in Osun State declared on Monday that the reinstated officials, who are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), are unlawfully holding office. They warned that these "illegal occupants" will soon face the full wrath of the citizens if they fail to vacate the councils immediately.
Addressing journalists in Osogbo, the convener of the groups, Stephen Olanrewaju, condemned the situation as "political banditry." He stated that the societies are prepared to mobilise the public to reclaim their "natural heritage" and restore power to the people should the officials remain defiant.
Background of Court Judgments and Expired Tenure
Olanrewaju provided a detailed legal background to justify their stance. He revealed that in 2022, a Federal High Court nullified the local government elections conducted by the then APC-led administration, sacking all the chairmen and councillors for failing to meet legal requirements.
This judgment was later affirmed by the Court of Appeal on June 13, 2025, in a ruling delivered by Justices Oyebisi Folayemi Omoleye, Peter Obiorah, and Hadiza Rabiu Shagari. Despite these clear rulings, the sacked officials have refused to obey the court orders.
On the issue of tenure, the activist was unequivocal. "Let us assume, without conceding, that the sacked officials had any valid claim; their tenure lawfully expired on 26th October 2024," he stated. This fact was reportedly confirmed by the Attorney-General of the Federation in Supreme Court filings.
He further noted that the officials themselves admitted their tenure had expired when they filed a tenure-elongation suit at the Federal High Court in Osogbo (suit number FHC/OS/CS/147/2025). Olanrewaju stressed that this suit has not been heard, and no court has issued any order permitting them to remain in office.
Demands and Warnings to Authorities
The civil society network has issued specific demands to resolve the crisis. They called on the Nigeria Police Force to immediately withdraw all protection from the officials and stop enforcing lawlessness.
"All individuals whose tenure expired on 26th October 2025 must vacate the council secretariats forthwith, failing which they should be lawfully removed in accordance with due process," Olanrewaju demanded.
The groups warned that the brazen violation of the constitution and open defiance of court judgments pose a grave threat to democracy, the rule of law, and public order in Osun State. They urged all relevant authorities, including the judiciary and security agencies, to act urgently to restore constitutional order.
In a closing warning, Olanrewaju said, "The patience of the Osun people and the wider civil society community is not infinite. Democracy cannot survive where court judgments are mocked. Osun State will not surrender to anarchy or impunity under any guise."
