Osun LG crisis: APC petitions police over alleged plot by PDP to recruit thugs

TUNDE ADELEKE, Osogbo

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused top officials of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of plotting to deploy armed thugs to cause havoc in the state.

The APC in a petition addressed to the Osun State Commissioner of Police on Monday, alleged that some PDP leaders are orchestrating plans to incite violence and attack reinstated APC local government officials across the state.

The petition was signed by the State Legal Adviser of the APC, Chief (Barr.) Adegoke Ogunsola, listed Osun Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), Hassim Abioye, Osun PDP Chairman, Sunday Bisi, and Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to Governor Ademola Adeleke, as key figures in the purported plot.

The petition reads in part, “We wish to draw the attention of security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Osun State Command, Men and officers of Department of State Security, etc., and your good office to the incitement of violence and plans that are being hatched by some functionaries serving with the Osun State Government and the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, to wit: Messes Kolapo Alimi, Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Osun State, and Hassim Abioye, the supposed Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) and Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to Osun State Governor and Mr. Sunday Bisi, the Chairman of the Peoples* Democratic Party, Osun State Chapter to recruit armed thugs that will be deployed to attack the Local Government Councils’ political functionaries in Osun State.

“The information at the disposal of the State

Executive Council of the All Progressives Congress, Osun State Chapter in that plans are being perfected by the afore-mentioned individuals on behalf of Osun State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, the Executive Governor of Osun State, to recruit armed thugs with the sole aim of attacking the political functionaries in the Local Government Councils and Area Offices in Osun State, who was elected on the 15 October 2022 on the platform of All Progressives Congress, but later illegally removed by the Osun State Governor through an Executive Order pursuant to the judgment of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, delivered on 25 November 2025, but the judgment which was later set aside on appeal to the Court of Appeal through the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Akure delivered on 10″ February 2025 and also confirmed by the Court of Appeal judgment of the Court of Appeal, Akure, delivered on 13 June, 2025.

“It is also important to bring it to your attention that on 17 February 2025 when the elected officials at the Local Government Councils and after their reinstatement by the Court of Appeal, Akure, some individuals within the Peoples Democratic Party, Osun State Chapter were suspected to have sponsored armed thugs and hoodlums who violently attacked the reinstated elected Local Government Councils* functionaries in all the Local Government Councils and Area Offices in Osun State and during the attacks, one of the reinstated Chairmen, late Hon. Remi Abass, former Chairman Irewole Local Government of Osun State was gruesomely murdered by the said armed thugs suspected to have been sponsored by the Osun State Government and the People’s Democratic Party, Osun State Chapter.

“We, therefore, call on you to use your good offices to deploy all security tactics and strategies to ensure the safety of the political functionaries and their property in all Local Government Councils and Area Offices and members of Progressives Congress in Osun State and to forestall breach of public peace break down of law and order in all the Local Government Councils and a Offices in Osun State.”

Reacting to the petition the state’s PDP Director of Media and Publicity, Oladele Bamiji described the allegations as baseless, stressing the Ademola Adeleke-led administration is committed to ensuring the protection of lives and properties of residents of the state.

According to him, our Governor’s disposition will never have told such lines that will encourage the loss of lives and properties.

“So nobody is mobilizing any power. The governor has told all of us who are his subject that the local government chairman elected on February 22nd this month should give just a piece of their time, waiting for the CTC of the court of appeal, and we take things up from there.”