Tension erupted across Osun State on Monday as sacked local government chairmen and councilors, who were elected during the administration of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, resumed duty at various council secretariats.
Their return followed a Court of Appeal ruling in Akure, which overturned a previous judgment by the Federal High Court in Osogbo that had removed them from office.
The situation quickly turned chaotic, with reports of gunshots in different parts of the state, causing panic among residents. Those living near the council secretariats were particularly alarmed as violence broke out in some areas. Tragically, some deaths were reported, although official casualty figures were yet to be confirmed at the time of this report.
One of the most disturbing incidents involved the former Chairman of Irewole Local Government, Mr. Remi Abass, who was reportedly killed by hoodlums after resuming office. However, independent verification of this claim was still pending.
The resumption of the chairmen and councilors appeared to be influenced by political affiliations. In local government areas where the All Progressives Congress (APC) has strong support, the officials successfully took over their offices. However, in areas where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) holds influence, many were prevented from resuming their positions.
Governor Ademola Adeleke, whose administration is under the PDP, had earlier warned of possible unrest in the state. At a press conference in Osogbo on Sunday, he accused his predecessor, Gboyega Oyetola—now the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy—of attempting to create chaos. He urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and prevent further disorder.
The APC, however, dismissed Adeleke’s claims, arguing that the PDP-led government was failing to respect the court’s decision.
