Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Tuesday met with former interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande, at his Ibadan residence to discuss the ongoing dispute over control of local government areas in the state.
Adeleke was accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaiye, Chief of Staff, Kazeem Akinleye, Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun; Commissioner for Commerce, Bunmi Jenyo; and the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi.
The Osun PDP and the APC are in a stand-off over the control of local government area in the state.
The crisis had turned violent, with at least six people killed.
On Tuesday, following an initial meeting with his aides present, Adeleke and Akande proceeded to a private discussion that reportedly lasted for about two hours.
Pictures from the visit went viral on social media, eliciting varied reactions, with many commenters interpreting the meeting as a move towards finding a political resolution to the local government dispute between the state government and the APC.
Providing insight into the discussion, Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, stated that the purpose of Adeleke’s visit was to brief Akande on the crisis and the legal complexities surrounding it.
“The governor deemed it necessary to inform Baba Akande about the developments in the state, particularly regarding the judicial rulings and their interpretations. He emphasised that, as a peace-loving leader, he expects the APC to seek legal redress rather than resort to self-help, which could lead to violence and loss of innocent lives in the state,” Alimi said.
He further noted that Akande welcomed the governor warmly and agreed that violence should not be an option in resolving the dispute.
Similarly, the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, confirmed that Adeleke reiterated his administration’s commitment to the rule of law and urged all stakeholders to avoid actions that could escalate tensions.
However, the APC, through a statement signed by its spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, condemned the governor’s visit, alleging that Adeleke sought Akande’s intervention for a “soft landing” regarding the reinstatement of local government chairmen and councillors.
“It is shocking that Governor Adeleke could visit Chief Akande after PDP-backed thugs, acting under his administration’s body language, killed one of our reinstated local government chairmen, Hon. Remi Abass, in Ikire, along with other APC members in different parts of the state,” the statement read.
The APC insisted that Akande, as a seasoned democrat, would not compromise the interests of his party.
The party advised Adeleke to pursue any grievances through legal channels rather than political negotiations, emphasising that the Supreme Court was the appropriate venue for redress following the Akure Court of Appeal ruling of February 10, 2025.
“We want to impress it on Governor Adeleke and his co-travellers that Pa Akande is a democrat and no amount of under-the-table arrangement would make the former governor of the state to work against the interest of his party. Does Governor Adeleke want Pa Akande to be praising him for being instrumental to the killing of the chieftain and members of his party?
“We want to believe that there are knowledgeable political lieutenants of Governor Adeleke who should guide him aright that the proper place for him to go if at all he has any case for redress after the Akure verdict of 10th of February, 2025, is the Supreme Court.”
The APC advised Adeleke to partner with the reinstated council chairmen and councillors to ensure dividend of democracy cut across the length and breadth of the state.
But reacting to the APC, Osun PDP lauded Adeleke for initiating statewide consultations, describing his visit to Akande as a demonstration of leadership and statesmanship.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Sunday Bisi, the PDP dismissed the APC’s criticisms, arguing that the opposition party was displeased because its efforts to destabilize Osun had failed.
“Governor Adeleke lost six of his party members to violence instigated by APC thugs. Yet, he has chosen to prioritise peace and consultation rather than revenge. This is a testament to his political maturity and sense of responsibility,” Bisi said.
He criticised the APC for allegedly encouraging lawlessness by supporting what he described as the “illegal occupation” of local government offices by reinstated officials.
He reaffirmed the PDP’s commitment to using legal means to restore duly elected officials and maintain stability in the state.
“The people of Osun State stand firmly with Governor Adeleke. Unlike the APC, which thrives on chaos, we believe in democracy, the rule of law, and peaceful governance,” Bisi added.
As tensions persist over the control of local government councils in Osun, all eyes remain on the state government, the APC, and the judiciary for the next steps in resolving the impasse.