The meeting between Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and former interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, highlights the ongoing tensions in Osun State over control of local government areas. The two political figures discussed the legal and political complexities surrounding the issue. The situation has escalated into violence, resulting in at least six deaths, and has sparked a public dispute between the Osun PDP and the APC.
Governor Adeleke’s visit aimed to provide Akande with an update on the crisis and to seek his guidance, emphasizing the importance of resolving the matter through legal means rather than violence. Akande, in turn, is said to have agreed with Adeleke’s stance on avoiding further violence. However, the APC criticized the visit, claiming it was an attempt by Adeleke to gain a “soft landing” for the reinstatement of local government chairmen and councillors and to seek Akande’s intervention.
The APC also accused the PDP of being responsible for the deaths of their members, including the killing of a local government chairman, and reiterated their position that the dispute should be taken to the Supreme Court, following a February ruling. In contrast, the Osun PDP defended the meeting as a sign of leadership and political maturity, noting that Adeleke had prioritized peace and consultation despite the violence suffered by his party.
The situation is a reflection of the deepening political divide in the state and the ongoing struggle over local governance, with both sides leveraging legal and political avenues to assert control. The conflict continues to draw attention due to its potential to impact the state’s stability and the broader political dynamics in Nigeria.
