Adeleke Blasts Emergency Rule Call, Accuses Osun APC of Plotting Backdoor Power Grab

By Otobong Gabriel, Abuja 

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has dismissed recent calls by unnamed civil society groups for the declaration of a state of emergency in the state, describing the demand as a desperate and failed attempt by opposition figures to destabilise his administration.

In a statement issued over the weekend, the governor alleged that the move was being orchestrated by loyalists of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola and Bola Oyebamiji, whom he accused of seeking to regain control of the state through undemocratic means after losing public support.

According to Adeleke, the agitation for emergency rule is merely a continuation of what he called the Osun All Progressives Congress (APC)’s long-standing strategy to create chaos and undermine governance at the grassroots.

He claimed that the opposition was responsible for disruptions within the local government system, accusing them of illegally occupying council offices, mismanaging public funds, and instigating unrest in a bid to blame his administration.

The governor further alleged that local government finances were seized and poorly handled under APC leadership, adding that the forceful occupation of council structures was designed to provoke tension across the state.

Despite what he described as repeated provocations, Adeleke said his government has maintained peace and stability in Osun.

He insisted there is no justification for the declaration of a state of emergency, describing the demand as “an act of frustration and desperation.”

Adeleke questioned the logic behind holding his administration responsible for the ongoing local government crisis, arguing that it was the former ruling party’s officials who allegedly overstayed their tenures and refused to vacate office after their mandates expired.

He also accused the opposition of unlawfully controlling council funds and breaching financial regulations, while his government, he said, has been using state resources to pay local government workers who were abandoned.

The governor maintained that the people of Osun are aware of those behind the unrest and vowed that his administration would continue to focus on governance and service delivery rather than political distractions.