Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has called on the Inspector-General of Police to direct the Osun State Police Command to stop providing support for the APC-backed “Yes/No” local government chairmen following a recent court judgment.
Adeleke made the call on Monday during a press briefing in Osogbo while addressing recent political developments in the state.
The governor said the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo dismissed an application seeking tenure elongation for the chairmen, describing the ruling as being in line with constitutional provisions on tenure in public office.
He argued that the judgment showed that the chairmen no longer had any legal basis to remain in office, adding that their tenure, if valid at all, had expired in October 2025.
Based on his interpretation of the ruling, Adeleke urged the Inspector-General of Police to direct the state police command to discontinue what he described as support for the chairmen.
Adeleke also called on the United Bank for Africa (UBA) to end what he described as its collaboration with the chairmen over local government funds.
According to him, the bank had earlier deposed to an affidavit affirming that all local government funds allegedly diverted remained intact.
He therefore insisted that every kobo belonging to the local governments must be secured and properly accounted for in line with the affidavit.
The governor further demanded that UBA allow signatories prescribed by law to operate the local government accounts, noting that the funds were needed for the payment of workers’ salaries, pensions and other allowances.
He also urged all law enforcement agencies to support the immediate restoration of what he described as the duly elected local government chairmen, saying such action would be in accordance with the law and the constitution.
Adeleke maintained that the state government would continue to pursue what it considered the lawful administration of local councils, while urging relevant institutions to comply with the court ruling and constitutional provisions.
According to him, “I congratulate our authentic elected chairmen on the Court ruling today. The dismissal of the elongation request conforms with the stipulations of the constitution. The judgment further validates the precedent set by the Supreme Court ruling that tenure elongation is unconstitutional.
“The Court also holds that the sacked chairmen have no legal foundation to file the case in the first place. Based on this ruling, it is clear the Yes/No chairmen’s tenure, if at all they have any, elapsed October 2025.
“Based on today’s judgement, I therefore call on the Inspector General of Police to direct the Osun state police command to stop its current support for the Yes/No chairmen.
“I specifically direct the Commissioner of Police to stop providing further security cover for the illegal occupation of the council secretariats by the sacked chairmen.
“I further call on the United Bank for Africa to stop its illegal collaboration with the sacked chairmen. We remind UBA that it has sworn to an affidavit in which it vowed that the entire diverted local government fund is intact.
“Based on this affidavit and today’s judgement, we insist that the UBA must ensure that every kobo of the local government fund is secured and accounted for.
“We demand that the UBA allows signatories prescribed by law to become signatories to the local government accounts. These funds are needed to pay local workers who are in need of their pension and other allowances.
“We demand that all law enforcement agents should support the immediate restoration of the duly elected local government chairmen. This is the path of law and the constitution.”………m
