The national leadership of the Accord Party has demanded the immediate vacation of Local Government Secretariats in Osun State by the All Progressives Congress, APC, chairmen and councilors recently sacked by the court.
Their purported election was nullified by the Federal High Court, Osogbo, in November 2022 and upheld by the Court of Appeal on 10th February 2025, and again on 13th June 2025, on grounds that it was conducted in flagrant violation of the requirements of the law.
The Accord noted that more importantly, the tenure of these APC officials expired on 22nd October 2025.
“There is no justification whatsoever why they will continue to occupy Local Government Secretariats in Osun State backed and protected by the Police as if Nigeria is a Banana Republic with no rule of law and where might is right,” a statement signed by Maxwell Mgbudem, National Chairman of Accord, said.
“It is outrageous and a calculated assault on the nation’s hard earned democracy.
The chairmen and councilors recently approached the Federal High Court seeking an extension of their expired tenure.
And Accord slammed this move saying that the politicians must have forgotten that the court is the temple of justice, and those who come to equity must come with clean hands.
“This forum shopping is a delay tactics to continue the siege on Osun Local Government Secretariat.
“It is obvious that there is no place in the nation’s Constitution and Electoral Act that permits tenure extension for any elected official.
“These anti-democratic forces have chosen to make a mockery of our representative governance. It is unacceptable and will be resisted by all lovers of democracy in Nigeria. We have a duty to safeguard our civil rule.”
Accordingly, the Accord said it “demands the immediate release of the N130bn statutory allocations to Osun State Local Governments illegally withheld by the Federal Government. It is unfair and unjust to withhold funds meant for effective and efficient governance at the grassroots, the government closest to the people.
The party urged the Inspector General of Police “to withdraw Police protection of illegal occupants of the Local Government Secretariat in the state in clear contempt of court orders and judgements, and expiration of their delusional mandate that has no basis in law.
“The only lawful Local Government leaders in Osun State are the Chairmen and Councilors elected on 22nd February 2025 and sworn-in on 23rd February 2025, as ordered by the Osun State High Court.
“They deserve Police protection to discharge their constitutional duties along with civil servants who were chased away by these desperate and expired politicians long rejected by the good people of Osun State.”
Accord also called on President Bola Tinubu to quickly intervene and save governance at grassroots level in Osun State.
“The need to restore order and democratic values in these Local Governments cannot be overemphasized,” it added, condemning what it described as “assault on the nation’s democracy by reactionary forces who want to cause confusion and political upheaval with a view to declaring a state of emergency in Osun State.
The party commended Governor Ademola Adeleke for his political sagacity, maturity, restraint and respect for the rule of law in the face of provocation, rascality and recklessness by these ex-APC chairmen, councilors and their sponsors who want to discredit his progressive, people-oriented government that has transformed the state.
