Olatunbosun Oyintiloye has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene in a developing crisis surrounding the recent Court of Appeal decision related to the 2022 local government elections in the state.
In a press briefing held in Osogbo on Sunday, Oyintiloye warned that rising tensions over the ruling could escalate into a full-blown conflict if not addressed swiftly. He noted that while the appellate court struck out the APC’s request to reinstate its appeal, it did not overturn the earlier judgment of February 10, which had reinstated the APC’s elected local government chairmen and councillors.
According to Oyintiloye, the misinterpretation of the court’s ruling by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Osun State government is fueling unrest. He said that the PDP’s claims that it now has control over the 30 local government councils in the state are misleading and provocative.
He raised concerns over a reported plan by PDP supporters to occupy local council secretariats, warning that such actions could result in violent confrontations. “Our elected officials still occupy those council offices, and any forced entry or confrontation could lead to chaos,” he stated.
The APC stalwart recalled a similar situation earlier in the year that led to violence and loss of lives, stressing that Osun cannot afford another round of political unrest. He called on the President to deploy additional security forces across the state to ensure peace is maintained.
Oyintiloye further criticized the PDP for attempting to exploit the court ruling to assert authority over local councils, despite the matter still being before the Supreme Court. He urged all parties to await a final verdict from the apex court rather than take unilateral actions that could destabilize the state.
The Court of Appeal in Akure had on Friday dismissed an application by the APC to relist its appeal challenging a Federal High Court judgment that voided the October 2022 local government elections. Those elections were conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC). They featured only APC candidates, a move that was later challenged in court by the Action Peoples Party (APP).
