The Network of Civil Society Groups, Osun State, has urged the Nigeria Police Force to withdraw protection allegedly being provided for “illegal occupants” of local government council secretariats across the state.
Speaking at a press conference in Osogbo, the Convener of the group, Olanrewaju Stephen alledged that the tenure of the APC chairmen and councillors had expired hence the need for withdrawal of police protection.
He noted that the Federal High Court had nullified the local government elections conducted under the former APC-led administration in Osun State, sacking all chairmen and councillors produced by the exercise.
He emphasised that the judgment, was affirmed by the Court of Appeal on June 13, 2025, by a panel led by Justices Oyebisi Folayemi Omoleye, Peter Obiorah, and Hadiza Rabiu Shagari.
He continued that despite subsisting judgments, the affected officials have refused to vacate office, falsely claiming the existence of a reinstatement order, adding that no court has issued any interim, interlocutory, or final order authorising their return or continued stay in office.
According to him, despite the clear position of the law, the Osun State Commissioner of Police CP Gotan continued to provide protection for these illegal occupants.
“On 5th January 2026, the court-sacked and tenure-expired APC chairmen and councillors, under police cover, invaded and re-occupied council secretariats, during which civil servants who had resumed work after months of strike action were molested and dehumanized.
This conduct amounts to active connivance in constitutional breach and a gross abuse of police powers.
“The continued occupation of local government secretariats by tenure-expired and court-sacked officials is illegal and unconstitutional and is tantamount to political banditry.
“The Nigeria Police Force must immediately withdraw all protection from these illegal occupants and desist from enforcing lawlessness.
“All individuals whose tenure expired on 26th October 2025 must vacate the council secretariats forthwith, failing which they should be lawfully removed in accordance with due process.
“Brazen violation of the Constitution and open defiance of court judgments pose a grave threat to democratic governance, the rule of law, and public order in Osun State. Nigeria cannot afford to normalise illegality, especially at the grassroots level of governance.”
He however, called on relevant authorities to act swiftly to restore constitutional order and uphold the sanctity of the rule of law in the state.
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