Governor of Osun State, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke, has decried the illegal extension of "self-awarded tenure" by chairmen and councillors of the All Progressive Congress (APC), declaring that tenure elongation is not allowed under the Nigerian constitution and within the context of established Supreme Court precedents

In a state broadcast today at Osogbo, the Governor spoke further: “It is a settled matter of law, that the tenure of elected officials in Nigeria cannot be extended for a single day after the expiration of their tenure. The Supreme Court in the case of former Governor Ladoja of Oyo State ruled that the governor’s tenure cannot be extended after finding in his favor, that he was removed from office illegally for about eleven months and reinstated him to office.

“In several fillings that have become public documents in our courts, including the Supreme Court, their lawyers and the Attorney-General of the Federation admitted that these APC chairmen and councillors have no claim to office beyond October 22, 2025.

“To further confirm that their so-called tenure has expired, the APC chairmen and councillors, approached the Federal High Court, seeking for an extension of their expired tenure.

“That case has not been heard. But the very act of seeking extension amounts to a clear admission, both in law and in fact, that whatever so-called tenure they claimed they had, had expired. Assuming, without conceding, that the APC chairmen and councillors had any tenure, the tenure expired on October 22, 2025.

“Despite these incontrovertible legal facts, they have continued to occupy the local government secretariat by brute force with police protection, allegedly acting on the instructions of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, the governor clarified.

Pointing accusing fingers at former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, Governor Adeleke expressed sadness that “in a democracy, these APC chairmen and councillors threatened in their various social media platforms, that they will continue to occupy the local government secretariats for as long as they want because they claim to have the backing of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola.

Charging Mr Oyetola to allow Osun to breathe, the state governor narrated several attempts by the APC court-sacked chairmen to create mayhem in Osun as a basis for declaration of a state of emergency, explaining how his administration frustrated several evil plots hatched against Osun people.

While condemning illegal occupation of the local governments, the governor wondered why, in a democracy, unlawful people are allowed by the police acting under the instruction of Mr Oyetola to illegally hijack and occupy the councils, asking if we are still practising democracy.

According to the governor, “Sometimes, I wonder if we are really under a democratic system of government, where nobody is above the law. In Osun State, it seems that the APC chairmen and councillors, whose so-called tenure has expired, are above the law, by the grace of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola.

“I have formally written to heads of relevant federal security agencies regarding actions that threaten peace and order in Osun State. It is deeply unfortunate that former Governor Gboyega Oyetola has chosen to weaponise federal institutions, particularly the Nigeria Police Force, also he has equally applied the same to the United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) to impose hardship and suffering on the good people of Osun State through alleged illegal instructions”, the governor submitted.

The governor also accused the United Bank for Africa (UBA) of allegedly allowing unauthorised persons to operate local government accounts, adding that senior bank officials involved are already facing criminal prosecution. He questioned whether such actions would be tolerated in jurisdictions like New York or London, where the bank operates.

He appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene by stopping former Governor Oyetola from issuing illegal directives to the police, warning that “Mr. President’s name is being used without his knowledge by former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, to get the Nigerian police and the UBA to obey his alleged illegal directives.

Repeating the fact that there is no place in our constitution and laws that allows for tenure elongation for any elected official, Governor Adeleke noted that “what confronts us here is, law versus lawlessness, constitutional order versus naked impunity.

“I therefore call on Nigerians and all those who sacrificed so much for our democracy, to join us in demanding an immediate end to the siege on our local governments”, the governor noted in the broadcast.

ASA