News
Osun Crisis: NASS Caucus Urges Tinubu to Restore Order, Condemns APC Takeover of LGs
By Gloria Ikibah
The Osun State Caucus in the 10th National Assembly has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the escalating political crisis in the state.
The caucus also urged the President to direct the National Security Adviser and Inspector General of Police to restore peace immediately.
Naijablitznews.com reports that crisis which started on Monday 17th February, stems from conflicting interpretations of a Court of Appeal judgment regarding the sacking of elected local government chairmen in the state.
The court nullified an earlier judgment that sacked the chairmen but did not order their reinstatement. Despite this, the ousted officials, backed by the APC, forcefully reclaimed council offices, sparking violence across the state.
Speaking on behalf of the caucus at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Rep. Bamidele Salam, member representing Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo federal constituency in the House, accused the APC of using thugs and security agents to seize local government offices illegally. He warned that the situation could spiral into full-scale violence if not addressed swiftly.
He urged the President to advise the APC leadership in Osun to abandon what he termed “an illegal and futile mission”.
Salam argued that the ruling did not grant the APC-backed officials any legal right to reclaim their offices.
“Aside from the Appeal Court decision nullifying the High Court judgment in the PDP’s case, the appellate court also dismissed a similar suit filed by the APC concerning the Action Peoples Party. The APC had abandoned the case, and as such, no ruling was given in their favor,” he said.
Despite this, he alleged that the former council chairmen, whose election was previously nullified, had forcefully reoccupied the councils.
According to him, this move, rather than being legally justified, was a desperate attempt to take control of the councils even though the APC has already chosen to participate in fresh local government elections scheduled for February 22, 2025.
The caucus further alleged that the forceful takeover of the local government secretariats had led to violent clashes across the state.
“PDP members and local government workers in several councils—including Isokan, Boripe, Boluwaduro, Ayedaade, and Ilesa—were reportedly attacked, with security agents allegedly aiding some of the aggressors”, he added.
Salam expressed concern that the situation could escalate into full-blown anarchy, as law and order had already begun to break down in various parts of the state.
“What we are seeing now is a direct invitation to chaos. Political thugs, emboldened by certain forces, are attempting to take the law into their own hands, and if this is not curtailed immediately, Osun State will descend into crisis,.
“Reports indicate that on Monday, several people were injured in different local government areas as clashes erupted between APC and PDP supporters. The affected councils include Ayedaade, Boripe, Osogbo, Olorunda, Ila, Isokan, Irewole, Obokun, and Atakumosa” he added.
The caucus also alleged that at Boripe Local Government, PDP members holding a meeting were attacked by a group that included armed policemen and political thugs.
“At Boluwaduro Local Government, a notorious thug known for his allegiance to the APC allegedly led assaults on PDP members, shooting sporadically across major towns in the area,” Salam said.
He further alleged that at Ayedaade Local Government, an APC-affiliated group shot a PDP member dead, leaving several others wounded.
At Ilesa East, he said that PDP supporters were attacked with machetes in a brutal attempt to seize control of the local government secretariat.
The caucus alleged the complicity of security agencies in the forceful takeover of local government offices. Salam accused security personnel of taking sides in the political crisis, enabling the violent invasion of council offices.
“There is clear evidence that these illegal activities are being carried out with the support of some security personnel.
“Despite a subsisting court judgment affirming their removal, these officials, aided by thugs, have been allowed to return to office unlawfully. The role of security agencies in this unlawful occupation raises serious questions about their neutrality and commitment to upholding law and order,” he said.
Salam alleged that the Minister of Blue and Marine Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, of masterminding the takeover of the local government secretariats across the state in connivance with security agencies.
The caucus reaffirmed its support for the Osun State Government, which is led by Governor Ademola Adeleke, stating that the ongoing local government election process should be allowed to proceed without unlawful interference.
The caucus maintained that the removal of the previous council chairmen was legally justified, as their election was conducted in violation of the 2022 Electoral Act.
“It is baffling that the same APC which has purchased forms, conducted primaries, and actively campaigned for the upcoming local government elections is now attempting to forcefully reinstate its sacked officials. This contradiction underscores the lawlessness of their actions,” Salam said.
“We want to make it clear that as representatives of the people, we stand firmly by the Osun State Government in defense of democracy and the rule of law,” he said.
Members of the Osun caucus include Sen. Akogun Olalere Oyewumi (Deputy Senate Minority Leader), Sen. Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, Sen. Olubiyi Fadeyi Ajagunnla, Bamidele Salam (Osun House of Reps Caucus Leader), Busayo Oluwole Oke, Taofeek Abimbola Ajilesoro, Clement Akanni Olohunwa, Soji Adetunji, Adebayo Morufu Adewale, Mudashiru Lukman, Lanre Oladebo and Sanya Omirin.
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate rose to 24.23% in March 2025, according to the official government data source, the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The rise in the country’s inflation rate, from 23.18% back in February 2025 to 24.23% in March 2025, reflected a major increase in the rising commodity and energy costs in the last few weeks.
According to the March 2025 Consumer Price Index (CPI) Report which measures the inflation rate released by the government agency on Tuesday, the country’s food inflation rate was 21.79% year-on-year in March 2025.
The food inflation rate, however, showed a decrease compared to the food inflation rate of 23.51% recorded in February 2025.
Economists had predicted that the country’s inflation rate which decreased minimally in February would rise when the Dangote Refinery and the state-run NNPCL got entangled in a petrol price war that culminated in the temporary termination of a naira-for crude agreement between the two oil companies and the subsequent increase in the pump price of petrol.
Some observers had also said the minimal reduction in the prices of food commodities experienced earlier in February was not sustainable, attributing the temporary decline in the prices of food to the importation intervention of the Federal Government.
Food and commodity inflation have skyrocketed as Nigerians battle what can pass for the worst cost of living crisis since the country’s independence over six decades ago, a development that economic wizards have attributed to President Bola Tinubu’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of the forex rates.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has apologised to the people of Bassa Local Government Area (LGA) for the failure of government and security agencies to protect lives and properties.
Fifty-one persons were gunned down early Monday in the Zikke community of the LGA, with houses razed and many displaced about two weeks after a similar attack led to the killing of scores of persons in Bokkos Local Government Area.
Less than two days after the most recent assault, Governor Mutfwang apologised for the government’s inability to protect the people.
Fifty-one persons were gunned down early Monday in the Zikke community of the LGA, with houses razed and many displaced about two weeks after a similar attack led to the killing of scores of persons in Bokkos Local Government Area.
Less than two days after the most recent assault, Governor Mutfwang apologised for the government’s inability to protect the people.
The governor said this on Tuesday at the palace of the Paramount Ruler in Miango.
“I will tell you the truth: I have been crying since yesterday because I had trusted God that all the arrangements were put in place, that this will not happen again. We have made investments in security,” he said.
But like all human arrangements, sometimes they fail. I want to admit that on Sunday night into Monday morning, we failed you. Please, forgive me.”
He urged the people not to relent in their efforts to secure their communities and ensure that they complement security agencies’ efforts by providing vital information for intelligence gathering and expose the antics of the criminals.
Governor Mutfwang, in the company of security chiefs and members of the state executive council, was in Zikke community to commiserate with the people on the death of over fifty persons killed in Monday’s attacks.
The Paramount Ruler of Irigwe land, Ronku Aka, who is the Brangwe of Irigwe, urged the government to come to the aid of the communities with the provision of social amenities in the area.
The governor and the entourage also went to see some of the families who lost their loved ones in the attack. The victims have been buried just as members of the community demanded action to stem the rising wave of insecurity in the state.
Plateau State has been a hotbed of attacks, but the renewed spate of attacks adds a fresh layer of twist to the decades-long crisis rocking the North-Central state.
After the most recent assaults, President Bola Tinubu ordered security agencies to fish out the masterminds, describing the attacks as condemnable.
While experts have linked the lingering Plateau crisis to farmers-herders tussle for resources, Governor Muftwang said it was sponsored and genocidal.
According to him, over 64 communities in the state have been taken over by gunmen.
The Kano State High Court on Tuesday reserved ruling in the high-profile case involving the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and seven others, who are facing an eight-count charge bordering on bribery, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds.
The case, instituted by the Kano State Government, lists Ganduje, his wife Hafsat Umar, Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Limited, Safari Textiles Limited, and Lasage General Enterprises Limited as defendants.
When the case came up for hearing, the legal teams for all defendants presented various preliminary objections challenging the jurisdiction of the court and filed applications for extension of time.
Leading the defence for Ganduje, his wife, and Umar, Offiong Offiong (SAN) told the court: “We filed our preliminary objection dated November 18, 2024, supported by a 28-paragraph affidavit and a written address. We also filed a reply on point of law dated April 4, 2025. We urge the court to grant our application.”
On the other hand, the prosecution led by Adeola Adedipe, SAN, maintained that the defence applications lacked merit.
“The state’s reply to the preliminary objection is dated October 22, 2024. It is backed by a seven-paragraph counter affidavit and a written address with supporting documents,” Adedipe said.
“We urge the court to dismiss the applications in their entirety.”
Counsel to the 3rd and 7th defendants, Adekunle Taiye-Falola, filed a similar preliminary objection dated October 18, 2024.
In response to the complainant’s counter affidavit, we submitted a further and better affidavit dated December 12, 2024, along with a reply on point of law. We respectfully urge the court to grant the application,” he said.
Sunusi Musa, SAN, representing the 5th defendant, filed his own objection with similar supporting documents.
“We are seeking not just a grant of our application, but also substantial costs against the complainant,” Musa added.
Ashafa Yusuf, counsel to the 6th respondent, noted: “Our notice of preliminary objection was dated September 9, 2024. We filed a further and better affidavit on February 17, 2025, and a reply on point of law. We request the court to grant our reliefs.
For the 8th defendant, counsel Faruk Asekome also filed a preliminary objection and followed up with a further affidavit and legal reply dated February 13, 2025.
“We have complied fully with the procedural requirements, and we ask the court to grant the application,” he said.
Presiding over the case, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu granted the applications for an extension of time. She, however, reserved ruling on the preliminary objections.
“Ruling on the notices of preliminary objection is hereby reserved. A new date will be communicated to all parties in due course,” Justice Adamu-Aliyu stated.
The court’s eventual decision on jurisdiction is expected to determine whether the trial will proceed or be dismissed at this stage.
-
News10 hours agoSHOCKING! One month after giving birth, woman discovers another baby in her womb
-
News10 hours agoTears, anguish as Plateau Community buries 51 killed by bandits
-
News16 hours agoPeter Obi speaks as Benue govt. blocks humanitarian visit
-
News9 hours agoAngry investors raid CBEX office, loot assets in Ibadan after digital Platform crash
-
News7 hours agoCBEX: 60 fraudulent Ponzi scheme operators to avoid in Nigeria
-
News16 hours agoFUOYE VC suspended over sexual harassment allegations
-
Politics9 hours agoIgbo Youths Set To Mobilize 5 Million Man-March In Support Of Tinubu, Kalu
-
News9 hours ago‘Not something I’d wish on anyone’ — Melinda Gates opens up on divorce