Rising political tension in Nigeria’s Osun State has prompted a senior member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to appeal to President Bola Tinubu for urgent intervention following a contentious court decision affecting local council leadership.
Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a former legislator and influential APC figure, expressed alarm over the brewing conflict triggered by a ruling from the Court of Appeal in Akure, which dismissed an APC application to revive its challenge against the annulment of the 2022 local government elections.
In comments to journalists on Sunday, Oyintiloye warned that the judgment was being misrepresented by the state’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he claimed is preparing to forcibly take control of council offices from APC-elected officials still in place.
He asserted that the PDP’s interpretation — that the court affirmed a prior nullification of the 2022 election — was inaccurate, arguing that a subsequent ruling reinstating the officials remains valid.
Oyintiloye cautioned that any attempt to remove the sitting officials could provoke serious unrest, referencing deadly violence that occurred during a similar standoff in February.
“To avoid loss of life and breakdown of law and order, we are pleading with President Tinubu to urgently deploy security forces and prevent an escalation,” he said.
The dispute dates back to an October 2022 local government election, in which only APC candidates were allowed to run. The poll was challenged by the Action Peoples Party (APP), and a Federal High Court later voided the result. The APC’s appeals have now been rejected due to procedural lapses.
While the Osun State government claims the recent Court of Appeal verdict validates its authority over the councils, the APC insists the matter is unresolved and currently before the Supreme Court.
Oyintiloye concluded by urging restraint, saying the state should await the apex court’s ruling rather than take unilateral action that could destabilise the region.
