Osun LG dispute: Police warn against lawlessness after court ruling

The Osun State Police Command on Friday urged residents and political stakeholders to remain calm following the recent judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo on the protracted local government dispute in the state.

The Command said it had observed rising tension in the aftermath of the ruling and was closely monitoring the conduct, statements and activities of all parties connected to the matter.

In a statement issued in Osogbo by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan on Friday, the Command stressed that there were established legal procedures for the enforcement of court judgements, including provisions for appeals where necessary.

“The rule of law remains the foundation of our democratic society; therefore, all parties are enjoined to strictly comply with the established legal procedures when seeking to enforce judgements,” the statement read.

The police warned against any attempt to take the law into private hands, maintaining that actions outside the legal framework could threaten the peace and stability that had existed in the state over the years.

“The Command will not tolerate lawlessness and extrajudicial actions that will jeopardise the long existing peace of the state,” Ojelabi stated.

The Command appealed to political actors, their supporters and members of the public to remain law-abiding and avoid acts capable of escalating tensions.

“We urge all political actors, their supporters, and the general public to remain calm, law-abiding, and maintain peace,” the police spokesman said.

According to the statement, “grievances arising from the judgement and any steps towards its enforcement should be pursued only through recognised legal and judicial channels.”

The police also disclosed that security personnel across the state had been placed on heightened alert to ensure that law and order were maintained throughout the jurisdiction.

“The Command will not hesitate to take decisive action against any individual or group that attempts to disrupt the peace or violate the law,” Ojelabi warned.

He assured residents of the Command’s commitment to maintaining a peaceful environment, adding that all concerned parties had been duly advised and that the police would continue to uphold the rule of law across the state.

DAILY POST had earlier reported that the political dispute over the control of local government councils in Osun State intensified as the state government sought police protection for chairmen elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, while the All Progressives Congress, APC, urged security agencies to prevent what it described as an unlawful takeover of council secretariats.

In a letter dated June 18, 2026 and addressed to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone XI Headquarters, Osogbo, counsel to the Osun State Government and the local government areas, Oluwabusola Oluwaniyi, requested police protection for officials elected in the February 22, 2025 local government election to enable them to resume office.

However, the APC warned against any attempt to enforce the judgment while an appeal process was underway.