Politics

IG Squads Occupy Secretariats As Osun LG Poll Crisis Rages

Published

6 months ago

February 24, 2025

As the political crisis in Osun State over the control of local government continues to rage, the tactical squad deployed by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, will remain at the LG secretariats, The PUNCH has gathered.

An impeccable source in the police, who spoke anonymously for lack of authorisation, said the tactical team had the IG’s mandate to man the secretariats for two months.

The political crisis deepened on Sunday as the All Progressives Congress vowed to take measures to prevent newly sworn-in local government chairmen of the Peoples Democractic Party from accessing council funds.

This comes after Governor Ademola Adeleke swore in the chairmen and councillors elected in Saturday’s local government election.

In the Saturday election, candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party won in all the Osun local government, the APC having withdrawn from the exercise.

The APC had cited a recent Court of Appeal judgment, reportedly reinstating the APC LG chairmen elected and sacked in 2022.

The APC LG chairmen had last week taken over the LG secretariat, insisting that they had been reinstated.

Though the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, warned against the conduct of a fresh LG poll, referencing the appeal court judgment, reinstating the APC LG chairmen, Governor Adeleke went on to conduct the fresh LG poll on Saturday.

At the swearing-in on Sunday, Adeleke directed the new PDP LG chairmen and councillors not to resume yet at their various council areas, to prevent clashes with “those whom the police had aided to forcefully occupy the local government secretariats.”

Meanwhile, a leader of the APC in Osun confided in The PUNCH that they would write to the banks to freeze the accounts of the local government, so that the new PDP LG chairmen would not have access to funds.

Speaking on the steps the APC will take against the new PDP LG chairmen, a former Special Adviser on Education to ex-Governor Gboyega Oyetola, Mr Jamiu Olawumi, told The PUNCH that the reinstated chairmen and their councillors would move to stop the PDP chairmen from accessing the funds of the councils.

He also said the chairmen would issue a directive for council workers to resume duty under the leadership of APC-elected chairmen, who were declared winners in the October 15, 2022, election.

“We will continue to go to the office. We will write to all the regional managers of banks in Osun to tell them that there has been a change of leadership in the local governments.

“We want to notify them that very soon, we will approach them to effect a change of signatories to the accounts of councils,” Olawumi stated.

He warned banks against recognising the PDP chairmen, describing them as “persona non grata,” and cautioned that any financial institution that took sides with them did so at its risk.

“We also implore regional managers of banks in Osun State not to join them in any game that can cause them imprisonment because power has changed in the local government, enforced by the Federal Government as a result of the Court of Appeal judgment.

“They should not deal with ward congress men of the PDP. They are persona non-grata. They don’t have any access to the local governments. So, any regional manager who sides with them is doing it at the risk of his bank and his job.

“We are ready to fight for this as we have always done. The appeal to the general public is to continue to transact with the local governments.

“Chairmen and secretaries are there to attend to you in a peaceful atmosphere that has been provided by the law of Nigeria and the Federal Government,” Olawumi said.

Olawumi also said the chairmen would recall local government staff who had since Monday stayed away from their duty posts to avoid being caught in the web of the political crisis in the state.

“We will also place a public service announcement that all local government officials should resume work.

“We are aware of the instruction of Governor Ademola Adeleke to his ward congress election winners that they are calling chairmen of local government that they should not go to office tomorrow (Monday) until there is peace.

“There is peace already because the Court of Appeal has given us peace in Osun. It is only the government of Osun under his leadership that is rupturing the peace.

“Also, they can’t come to the council because there is no vacancy in the local governments. Our appeal to the career leadership of the local governments is to call their colleagues who are staff of local governments to resume.

“The Federal Government has provided enough security and it’s adequate for us,” he said.

Responding, the Osun PDP Director of Media, Oladele Bamiji, dismissed APC’s plans as mere wishes.

He said, “We don’t think that they would be so unreasonable. There are litigations here and there unless they want to start another controversy. If they do anything contrary to what is on the ground, we will now see what to do.

“I just hope they know what they are doing because the local government does not just stop at the local council alone; there are other layers of governance that deal with local government, and I hope they realise that local government is not just about the chairman alone.

“We have other civil servants that are also signatories to the account. All this gallivanting does not show them as moderate or civilised enough to even know the procedures in the administration of the local government they are trying to administer,” he said.

The PDP spokesman added, “We are ready for everything, and we will be treating every issue as it comes. Where we are is where we are. The election has been held, winners have emerged, and we take things up from there.”

Multiple security sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity to The PUNCH said operatives attached to the tactical teams of the Inspector General of Police, who were deployed in the state would remain in Osogbo until further notice.

This, the sources said, was to ensure security at local government secretariats in the state.
(PUNCH)

Related Topics:Osun Osun LG Crisis Osun LG poll

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Politics

Edo PDP Knocks Okpebholo Over ₦2.5b Donation To UBTH

Published

1 day ago

August 27, 2025

Editor

Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the approval of ₦2.5 billion to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital by Governor Monday Okpebholo.

The Governor announced the approval on Tuesday when the new Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Idia Ize-Iyamu, paid a courtesy visit to him in Government House, Benin.

Ize-Iyamu had requested the state government’s assistance in constructing a world-class Paediatric Centre worth N2.5 billion which the governor approved.

However, the PDP, in a statement by its Caretaker Committee Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare said the governor should have invested the money on state-owned hospitals instead of a federal institution.

The statement statement partly reads, “This misadventure is not only reckless but a glaring example of the 2027 election fixation and desperate eye-service politics that has defined Okpebholo’s almost one year in office.

“Edo people are being made to suffer while their resources are squandered on federal facilities that are not the primary responsibility of the state.

“We align with the position of the Association of Resident Doctors under Edo State Government Employment, who have openly decried this misplaced priority. Their statement exposes what Edo people already know, our hospitals are collapsing, yet the Governor prefers to chase cheap popularity.”

The PDP said that Stella Obasanjo Hospital, which was rebuilt with state funds, remained locked with less than a tenth in use, wondering why the ₦2.5 billion was not channelled there.

The statement added, “The Edo Specialist Hospital continues to cry for expansion and adequate support but has been ignored by a government obsessed with pleasing political benefactors and seeking headlines.

“The General Hospital in Abudu is no more than a mere patent medicine store, and yet, ‘₦2.5 billion that belongs to Odogwu is being given to Caesar.”

The PDP also noted that Edo doctors, who only recently suspended their strike, still have their legitimate demands unmet.

“Edo people obviously did not elect a Governor to act as a philanthropist to federal institutions. They elected a leader to fix our hospitals, build capacity, and ensure access to healthcare for all. By neglecting this sacred duty, Okpebholo has shown that he is unprepared, unserious, and out of touch with the realities of Edo citizens.

“We in the PDP demand that this decision be reversed and that urgent attention be given to Edo-owned hospitals which directly serve our people. Edo deserves working hospitals, not political monuments built with eyes on the 2027 elections.

“This is not leadership. This is a reckless waste. And Edo people will not forget,” the statement added.

Efforts to get the government’s response proved futile, as a top official, who pleaded anonymity, said that a response will come on Thursday.

Politics

PDP Zones 2027 Presidential Ticket To South

Published

3 days ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party’s 102nd National Executive Committee meeting has resolved to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South while retaining the existing National Working Committee zoning formula for the November elective convention.

Addressing journalists after the NEC meeting in Abuja on Monday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, disclosed that the decision followed the presentation of a report by the Zoning Committee chaired by Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri.

Recall that during the 2023 elections, the PDP threw its presidential ticket open, leading to the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its candidate.

However, some southern leaders, led by then Rivers State Governor and now FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, opposed him over what they saw as an unfair power-sharing arrangement for the South.

In the end, the PDP candidate lost to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.

After declaring the zoning arrangement, Ologunagba added that the NEC also expressed satisfaction over the level of preparedness of the PDP’s various organs, Chapters and structures for the 2025 Elective National Convention scheduled for Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital on Saturday 15th to Sunday 16th November 2025.

Ologunagba, while reading the 102nd NEC communiqué, said the meeting commended the efforts of PDP governors, Board of Trustees, NWC, National Assembly caucus, and other party organs toward the success of the 2025 National Convention.

The communique read in part, “NEC received and after extensive deliberation approved the report of the National Convention Zoning Committee which recommended that all PDP National Office positions currently in the Northern Region of the country remain in the Northern Region.

“That all PDP National Office positions currently in the Southern Region of the country remain in the Southern Region.

“That having retained the position of the National Chairman in the Northern Region of the country, the Presidential Candidate of the Party for the 2027 General Election is hereby zoned to the Southern Region.

“That the Regions should immediately micro-zone positions within its Region for implementation.

“NEC also received an update from the PDP Constitution Amendment Committee and directed the Committee to circulate the Draft Constitution Amendment to various Organs and Chapters of the Party for further inputs.”

Ologunagba said NEC confirmed Umar Damagum as substantive National Chairman, effective Monday, August 25, 2025, in recognition of his role in stabilising the party, pending the National Convention.

He continued, “NEC condemns the resort by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to State Capture through state-backed intimidation, manipulation, inducement, coercion and violence against Nigerians as witnessed in APC’s muzzling of the recent bye-elections in parts of the country.

“NEC particularly expressed dismay and condemned the militarisation of the recent bye-elections especially in Kaduna and Taraba States as well as Zamfara State where excessive security agencies were deployed in the conduct of the run-off election in only five Polling Units in Kaura Namoda South State Constituency.

“NEC declares that this action by the APC is a confirmation of the APC’s desire to turn our country into a totalitarian One-Party State which is a clear and present danger to democracy and the corporate existence of our country.

“NEC reassures Nigerians of PDP’s commitment to Democracy and the defense of the interest and well-being of all citizens as we work hard to further reposition our Party to regain power in 2027.”

Politics

Why APC Candidates Contested 2023 LG Election Despite Intimidation — State Chairman

Published

3 days ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The Edo State Chairman
of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarret Tenebe, has explained why his party did not boycott the 2023 local government council election in the state despite intimidation and obvious efforts to compromise the exercise by the then government.

He said the party allowed its candidates to contest the local government election in order to gather momentum for the governorship election which was some months away as at then.

Tenebe spoke on Monday when he received the chairmanship candidates of the APC in that election at the party secretariat, Benin City, where he assured them that their labour would not be in vain.

He commended them for their determination, confidence and belief in the party despite being in an opposition at that time contesting against an incumbent government led by former governor Godwin Obaseki.

Tenebe said “People never believed that APC should contest that election but I believed that we should enable us to gather momentum for the governorship election which was coming then.

“Consultations began with party leaders and we all later agreed that the party should contest that election which was keenly contested.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under Godwin Obaseki wrote the results of that election.

“You people did your best in the election and campaigned vigorously for senator Monday Okpebholo to win the governorship election in the state.

“You work hard to ensure APC win the governorship election as that is the only way your stolen mandate will be returned.

“The party will stand with you and not allow your labour to be in vain. The party will not allow you to work alone as the party will work with you. The governor is very much aware of your support”.

Speaking on behalf of the candidates, Enahoro Aikpokpo said they contested at a very difficult time to keep the party alive despite the intimidation and challenges they faced.

He called on the party to consider them and give them the right of first refusal as they are interested in the forthcoming local government election in the states.