The Osun State President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Dr. Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, has strongly condemned the recent takeover of local government secretariats by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the action as illegal and a threat to democracy.
In a statement issued in Osogbo on Tuesday, Dr. Ogungbangbe criticized the forceful occupation of the secretariats by APC members, calling it a breach of due process and an attempt to destabilize local governance in the state.
He stressed that such actions could lead to chaos and disrupt essential services at the grassroots level.
“It should be noted that Action Peoples Party, (APP) had received a judgement in a suit filed against the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), which was delivered on November 30th, 2022 at the Federal High Court, Osogbo, that nullified the October 2022 LG election, the seats of Chairmen and Councillors across Osun State are deemed vacant.”
“The invasion of local government secretariats by APC members is not only unlawful but also a dangerous precedent that undermines the rule of law. The proper channel for reinstating the sacked local government chairmen from the October 2022 election is through the courts, not through forceful occupation,” Ogungbangbe stated.
“Anyone calling themselves elected chairmen or councillors in Osun State today is an impostor and looters. They are the enemy of democratic government.”
The APC had reportedly moved to take over the secretariats following an Appeal court judgement, which did not state that the chairmen be reinstated back to the local government offices in the state.
NULGE, which represents local government workers across the state, expressed concern that the political struggle could negatively impact staff welfare and service delivery.
Ogungbangbe appealed to the All Progressive Congress, APC not to plunge the peaceful Osun State into a state of anarchy.
He urged Governor Ademola Adeleke and relevant authorities to take decisive action in protecting local government governance and ensuring that local government administration runs smoothly without political interference.
Ogungbangbe advised all local government employees to stay away from the secretariats until normalcy returns, warning them not to partake in any unlawful activities that would truncate democracy in Osun State.
