Osun Government, PDP Reject APC’s Call for Emergency Rule

State Officials Condemn APC’s Demand for Federal Intervention

The Osun State Government and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have strongly condemned calls by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, urging President Bola Tinubu to extend emergency rule to Osun State.

The demand, which came after President Tinubu imposed a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the state assembly, has sparked political tension in Osun. APC members claim that the PDP-led government of Governor Ademola Adeleke has committed constitutional violations that warrant federal intervention.

However, Osun’s Commissioner for Information and Civic Engagement, Kolapo Alimi, dismissed the call as “callous, self-centered, and unlawful.”

NYSC To Spend N307.6bn On Corps Members’ Allowances Amid Delay In Implementation

Osun PDP Accuses APC of Attempting to Seize Power Illegally

The Osun PDP spokesperson, Oladele Bamiji, accused Senator Basiru and the APC of trying to regain control of the state through undemocratic means after losing in the 2022 elections.

“The call by APC is nothing but a desperate attempt to grab power through the backdoor after being rejected by the people at the polls,” Bamiji stated.

He argued that the political crisis in Rivers State is significantly different from Osun, and there is no justification for emergency rule in the state.

“There is nothing near a breakdown of governance in Osun State. The state government is running smoothly, the Assembly is functional, and the judiciary is stable. Osun is peaceful,” he added.

APC’s Justification for Emergency Rule in Osun

Backing Senator Basiru’s call, the Osun APC spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, claimed that Governor Adeleke had violated constitutional provisions, including:

• Attempting to remove the state Chief Judge.
• Alleged killings of APC members during the 2022 general elections.
• Disregard for court orders on the reinstatement of local government chairmen.

Olabisi insisted that Adeleke’s actions were worse than those of Governor Fubara in Rivers State, and the President must act to prevent what he described as “abuse of office” by the governor.

“Adeleke has committed many constitutional breaches. We urge President Tinubu to intervene before the situation worsens,” Olabisi declared.

Osun Government Responds, Rejects APC’s Claims

In a strongly-worded response, Commissioner Kolapo Alimi criticized Basiru, describing his call for emergency rule as reckless and dangerous.

“Senator Basiru and the Osun APC are overambitious and seeking to seize power through mischievous means,” Alimi stated.

He noted that while local government tensions exist in Osun, they do not justify federal intervention. He accused the APC of trying to destabilize the state by manipulating legal issues into political crises.

“The Osun APC lacks popularity and political acceptance. Their tactics to cause mayhem and force federal intervention will fail,” Alimi added.

PDP Warns Against “Shortcuts” to Regaining Power

The Osun PDP reiterated that the APC’s push for emergency rule was part of a broader strategy to take control of states where they lost elections.

“The APC seems to have found a shortcut to reclaiming states they lost—by pushing for emergency rule. But Osun is not Rivers. There is no crisis here,” Bamiji insisted.

He warned the APC National Secretary against misleading the public into believing that Osun was in crisis.

“There are always political altercations, but that does not mean governance has collapsed,” he stated.

Legal Cases and Calls for Calm

The commissioner also pointed out that several court cases are ongoing regarding the local government disputes and should be resolved legally rather than through federal intervention.

“Senator Basiru should know that legal matters must be resolved in court, not through unconstitutional calls for emergency rule,” Alimi noted.

He urged President Tinubu to ignore the APC’s request, stating that Osun remains peaceful, and Governor Adeleke continues to lead effectively.

Conclusion

The Osun APC’s call for emergency rule has deepened political tensions in the state, with the PDP and state government firmly rejecting the move. While the APC insists that Governor Adeleke has violated the constitution, the PDP maintains that the opposition party is attempting to regain power by exploiting federal authority.

With ongoing legal battles over local government leadership, all eyes are on President Tinubu to see whether he will intervene in Osun or allow the state’s political disputes to be settled through due process.