Combo of IGP Egbetokun and Gov Ademola Adeleke

The Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State has accused the Inspector General of Police,  Kayode Egbetokun, of colluding with the All Progressives Congress to enforce what it described as a “non-existent” court order aimed at reinstating former local government chairmen in the state.

The Chairman of Osun PDP, Sunday Bisi, made the allegations while addressing journalists at the party’s state secretariat in Osogbo.

Bisi accused the IGP of deploying Special Forces to escort the sacked chairmen and councillors into local government offices, claiming that the move was part of a larger plot to destabilize the state and potentially assassinate Governor Ademola Adeleke.

The PDP also claimed that the APC has been plotting to undermine Governor Adeleke’s administration since losing the 2022 elections, warning the IGP to desist from enabling violence and chaos.

The crisis erupted on Monday when APC members attempted to enforce the Court of Appeal’s judgment by resuming at council secretariats across the state.

This move was met with resistance from PDP supporters, leading to violent clashes that claimed six lives, including that of APC chieftain Remi Abass, and destroyed properties.

Despite the chaos, the chairmen and councillors resumed office in several local government areas on Wednesday, sparking renewed tensions between the two political parties.

Similarly, the Osun State House of Assembly condemned the takeover of local government secretariats by the APC, describing it as undemocratic.

The Speaker, Adewale Egbedun, called on President Tinubu to intervene and protect democracy in the state.

Egbedun also urged the IGP to evict the sacked officials and restore confidence in the neutrality of the Nigeria Police Force.

He also called for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the violence.

APC REACT

Responding to the PDP allegations, the APC spokesperson in Osun State, Kola Olabisi, criticized the PDP chairman for what he termed unnecessary attacks on the IGP, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the former governor, Adegboyega Oyetola.

“Sunday Bisi is shedding crocodile tears,” Olabisi said, accusing the PDP of orchestrating the violence that resulted in the death of Hon. Remi Abass, the APC Chairman of Irewole Local Government Council. He also alleged that PDP thugs attempted to assassinate other APC chieftains by attacking their vehicles.

Declaring Osun PDP and Adeleke as the aggressors, Olabisi asked, “Does the embattled state PDP chairman want to tell the good people of Osun State that it was not the hired thugs of his party that killed our serving chairman of Irewole Local Government Council Area of the state, Hon Remi Abass, in a coordinated attack on Monday in Ikire?

“Sunday Bisi is only shedding crocodile tears which, would not, in any way, jeopardize the efforts of the police to fish out the foot soldiers and sponsors of the killers of our members for proper investigation and subsequent prosecution for murder.”

Olabisi emphasized that the APC was enforcing the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which overturned the Federal High Court’s ruling on November 25, 2022, that had sacked the local government chairmen and councillors elected in October 2022.