Politics
Osun LG Crisis Deepens as Workers Reject 72-Hour Ultimatum Amid Political Showdown
Osun LG Crisis Deepens as Workers Reject 72-Hour Ultimatum Amid Political Showdown
The escalating local government crisis in Osun State has taken a dramatic turn as local government workers have outrightly rejected the 72-hour ultimatum issued to them to resume work amid the ongoing power struggle between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a bold move, APC-backed local government chairmen, who were elected in 2022, returned to the council secretariats on Monday with heavy security escorts. Their PDP counterparts, recently elected in the controversial Saturday polls, heeded Governor Ademola Adeleke’s directive and stayed away, intensifying the uncertainty gripping the state.
The crisis stems from conflicting legal rulings and political maneuvering. The APC claims legitimacy based on a Court of Appeal ruling that reportedly overturned a previous high court judgment which removed the 2022 LG chairmen. In contrast, the PDP-led state government proceeded with fresh LG elections last weekend, with the APC refusing to participate, leading to a PDP landslide victory.
Tensions have reached boiling point, with at least six reported deaths as a result of the political tussle. Amidst the chaos, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) ordered workers to stay away from the LG secretariats, fearing for their safety in the violent political face-off.
Despite the precarious situation, the returning APC chairmen have given the workers a 72-hour ultimatum to return, claiming the security situation has been stabilized. However, the NLC has firmly rejected the directive, maintaining that workers would not return under the current volatile conditions.
A correspondent who visited key LG secretariats in Ifelodun (Ikirun), Olorunda (Igbona), and Osogbo (Oke Baale) reported that APC-backed officials had taken over the premises. However, the Osogbo LG secretariat was later shut, and armed security forces—including police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) operatives—were seen mounting roadblocks at key locations, including Osogbo/Kwara Boundary Road, Osogbo/Ilesa Road, and Gbongan/Osogbo Road. Despite the heavy security presence, business activities in the state capital continued undisturbed.
APC chieftain Jamiu Olawumi, a former Special Adviser on Education under ex-Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, confirmed that APC LG chairmen and councilors had resumed across all 30 LGAs. He warned that workers must return to duty by Wednesday or face consequences.
“All chairmen and councillors have resumed in all local governments and area councils in Osun State, including Irewole LG. The security is very tight; we have responsible police officers, DSS, and Civil Defence ensuring order. Most of the chairmen have issued press releases this morning directing their workers to resume by Wednesday. Failure to do so will result in consequences,” Olawumi declared.
However, the Osun NLC Chairman, Christopher Arapasopo, swiftly rejected the ultimatum, asserting that workers would not be intimidated or forced into an unsafe work environment.
“We directed our members to withdraw their services last week due to the political turmoil and insecurity at local government offices across the state. We cannot allow our members to work in an atmosphere of fear. If not for our swift action, the chaos at the LG secretariats could have been far worse,” Arapasopo stated.
He further condemned the APC chairmen’s threats, insisting that the workers’ safety was paramount. “The sacked chairmen lack the power to intimidate, threaten, or instruct our members to resume work. We will not be bullied into submission. We insist on the rule of law and call on all political players to respect legal processes to prevent anarchy.”
Arapasopo also called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene urgently in the crisis before it spirals further out of control. “We appeal to President Tinubu to step in as a father figure and bring an end to this chaos. Security agencies must also ensure the safety of lives and property across all local governments.”
As the political showdown between the APC and PDP escalates, the fate of local government administration in Osun State hangs in the balance, with workers caught in the crossfire of a high-stakes power struggle.
*Renewed Hope Ambassadors Step Into the Next Phase
Fresh from the successful APC 2026 National Convention, the Renewed Hope Ambassadors National, Zonal, and State leadership gathered in Abuja over the weekend, for its fourth strategic meeting, setting the tone for nationwide grassroots activation ahead of 2027.
Chaired by Governor Hope Uzodinma (Imo State) the Director General and National Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, alongside Deputy Director-General, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, and Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State as Secretary, the session reinforced one clear direction: One Party. One Message. One Mobilization whilst also laying out a strategic roadmap for the activation of the network across all communities in Nigeria.
Backed by the strength of 31 APC-led states, the Renewed Hope Agenda is taking Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s message of progress and reform to every corner of Nigeria.
From bold economic restructuring to initiatives like NELFUND, the increase in the national minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000, and strategic investments in critical sectors, including PNiCGI, the mission remains clear: helping Nigerians understand both the purpose and the progress of the Renewed Hope vision.
This is coordination at scale. This is grassroots engagement with purpose. This is the next phase of Renewed Hope with One Party, One Message, and One Mobilisation framework
#RenewedHopeAmbassadors #APC #WeAreAPC
Governor Bago Inaugurates APC Digital Media Sub-Committee Ahead of National Convention.
Governor Umaru Bago has inaugurated the Digital Media Sub-Committee for the forthcoming National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), scheduled to hold on March 27 and 28, 2026 in Abuja.
Chairing the sub-committee, Governor Bago tasked members with the responsibility of effectively communicating the party’s manifesto to the public.
He emphasized the need to leverage social media platforms to highlight the achievements and ongoing efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that communication gaps have posed challenges that must now be decisively addressed.
The Co-Chair of the sub-committee, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, echoed the Governor’s position, urging members to project the activities of both the party and the government to a broader audience.
He called for a deliberate and coordinated effort to showcase the party’s achievements and policy direction, stressing the importance of shaping a compelling and consistent narrative across all digital platforms.
Delivering a presentation to the committee, Otega Ogra, SSA to the President on New Media, who serves as Secretary of the sub-committee, outlined strategic focus areas to guide the team’s operations.
His presentation highlighted communication priorities and actionable steps to achieve the committee’s mandate and strengthen the party’s digital engagement.
VP Shettima Set to Lead Delegation to Zamfara as Governor Dauda Lawal Formally Joins APC
The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has finalized plans to receive Vice President Kashim Shettima for the formal defection and reception of Governor Dauda Lawal into the ruling party, scheduled to take place on Tuesday.
State APC Chairman, Tukur Danfulani Maikatako, disclosed this during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held in Gusau, the state capital. He noted that the Vice President would be joined by the party’s national leadership to mark what he described as a landmark political realignment in the state.
Maikatako expressed the party’s excitement over Governor Lawal’s return, recalling that Zamfara had historically been an APC stronghold and that the Governor was previously a bona fide member of the party before his earlier exit.
“We all know that Zamfara has long been one of the APC’s stronghold states, where the defected Governor was once a bona fide member. Now that he has decided to return home, having been satisfied that the APC remains his second choice after the one he left for obvious reasons,” Maikatako stated.
The Chairman called on all party faithful across the 147 wards in the state’s 14 local government areas to turn out en masse to honour the Vice President’s visit. He emphasized that the event was strategically positioned to bolster the party’s popularity and strengthen its structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a strong appeal for unity, Maikatako urged members to set aside all factional tendencies, stressing that the APC remained one political family with shared goals, particularly the ambition to make Zamfara and Nigeria great again.
Echoing similar sentiments, a former state APC Chairman, Lawal M. Liman, appealed to members to cascade the message to their wards and local government areas. He reinforced the need for cohesion, noting that the party’s collective strength would be critical to achieving success in future elections.
All eyes are now on Gusau as the ruling party prepares for a high-profile political gathering expected to further consolidate its influence in Zamfara State.
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