By Tunde Olamilekan
The local government chairmen elected under the All Progressives Congress and those of the Peoples Democratic Party have traded words over the resumption of local government workers after 10 months at home.
osun.life reports that the leadership of the Osun State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employee, on Monday, directed its members to resume back to the secretariats on January 05, 2026.
Osun NULGE, through its president, Dr Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, in a statement, however, made some demands on security agencies, which included the admission that the tenure of the APC chairmen has expired and the provision of security for his members.
But the local government chairmen elected under the APC, in a statement, said the NULGE president should be held responsible should there be any breach of peace and breakdown of law and order in the 30 Local Government Areas and Ife-East Area Office, Modakeke.
The APC elected ALGON chairman, Abiodun Idowu, said the NULGE President’s resumption was a guise to perpetrate evils, cause chaos and unleash mayhem capable of jeopardising the atmosphere of peace that the council Chairmen have built since their reinstatement by the Court of Appeal.
The statement reads in parts: “We found it worthwhile to alert the security agencies on the possible invitation to chaos as orchestrated by the NULGE President, Nathaniel Ogungbangbe as contained in a statement he issued seeking protection from the security agencies to oust the council Chairmen and Councillors.
“The latest statement from Ogungbangbe shows clearly the intention and ulterior motive being nurtured by NULGE executives to subject the state to social unrest. Hence our resolve to alert the security agencies to hold him (Ogungbangbe) responsible should there be any breakdown of law and order.
“For the avoidance of doubt, our occupation of council Secretariats is legal, constitutional and legitimate. Our tenure determination suit is still in court and until its final determination, we are still the Chairmen and Councillors across the 30 LGAs in Osun State.”
But the council chairmen elected under the PDP through its chairman, Sharafadeen Awotunde, in a statement, described the APC chairmen’s stand as illogical.
Awotunde said the APC chairmen, citing the February 10th court matter as an excuse to continue their stay in office, were baseless and deceptive.
According to him, the tenure of the APC chairmen and councillors elapsed on October 22nd, adding that “their continued occupation of local government secretariats therefore amounts to deliberate violation of the rule of law.
“In addition, the Court of Appeal judgment of June 13, 2025, remains valid, subsisting and enforceable. Their continued parading as political office holders is a brazen act of contempt of court capable of attracting legal sanction. We therefore call on all security agencies in Osun State to act within the law by preventing the illegal APC impostors from disrupting the lawful resumption of government workers. Should there be any breakdown of law and order anywhere in the state, Mr Abiodun Idowu and his co-travellers should be held directly responsible,” he added.
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