Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on Tuesday condemned the continued occupation of local government secretariats by former All Progressives Congress officials, saying their tenure ended on October 22, 2025 and cannot be extended under the Constitution.
The governor stated that local government autonomy does not permit individuals whose tenure has expired to remain in office or control public funds meant for workers. He maintained that once an elected term ends, the authority attached to it also ends, regardless of any court action filed afterward. He also warned security agencies against offering protection for actions he described as unlawful.
Adeleke reassured local government workers across the state that their salaries were still being paid and said autonomy should not translate into hardship for workers. He criticised attempts to link the continued occupation of council offices to the President, insisting that no one should use the name of the President to justify actions that violate the law.
The governor’s comments came amid ongoing disagreements over the control of local government councils in Osun State. On Monday, he had also demanded the immediate release of statutory allocations meant for the councils, accusing former APC chairmen and councillors of unlawfully retaining control of council offices despite several court rulings.
According to Adeleke, the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo nullified the elections of the APC officials in November 2022, a decision later upheld by the Court of Appeal on February 10, 2025, and again on June 13, 2025. He said the officials had no legal mandate to remain in office after those judgments.
The governor explained that the continued occupation of council secretariats had disrupted grassroots administration and contributed to the withholding of more than N130 billion meant for salaries and essential services. He stressed that the removal of the officials was based on judicial decisions and not executive action.
Adeleke added that fresh local government elections were conducted in line with court orders, leading to the inauguration of new chairmen and councillors on February 23, 2025. He rejected claims of tenure extension by the former officials, saying the Constitution and Supreme Court decisions do not allow any elected officer to remain in office beyond the approved term.
He also expressed concern over reports that some local government workers who tried to return to work were attacked, calling for respect for the rule of law and protection of democratic principles in the state.