Osogbo
31st December, 2025
Reinstated Chairmen and Councillors across the 30 Local Government Councils of Osun State have petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), and the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps (NCDSC) over what they described as actions capable of threatening public peace and security in the state.
In the petition, the local government officials accused the President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Dr. Kehinde Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, alongside members of his alleged clique, of engaging in conduct they consider dangerous to democratic governance at the grassroots.
Submitted through their solicitors, the petition alleges criminal conspiracy, treasonable conduct, the spread of false information intended to mislead security agencies, public incitement, and actions likely to cause a breach of peace.
According to the petitioners, the alleged acts are aimed at provoking unlawful security intervention, disrupting local government administration, and heightening tension across Osun State, particularly at the grassroots level.
The Chairmen and Councillors anchored their position on the judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on 10 February 2025 in Appeal No. CA/AK/270/2022, which reinstated them into office. They maintained that, pending any contrary decision by a competent court of law, their tenure remains valid and subsisting, and they are lawfully carrying out their responsibilities.
The affected officials are represented by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and notable local government functionaries, including Hon. Samuel Idowu Abiodun, Hon. Onibonokuta Saheed, Hon. Ayegbayo Gbolahan Muyiwa, Hon. Olayera Elugbaju, Hon. Adegbite Mufutau, Hon. Balogun Olanrewaju, Hon. Ogundipe Maroof, Hon. Isola Kamoli Adeniyi, and Hon. Adeyemi Elliot, among others.
They further alleged that the NULGE leadership under Ogungbangbe has persistently embarked on misinformation campaigns, issuing what they described as inflammatory statements and petitions designed to portray lawfully reinstated local government officials as illegitimate. Such actions, they claimed, risk inciting unrest and drawing security agencies into partisan controversies.
The petitioners warned that if the alleged actions are not urgently addressed, they could undermine the rule of law, weaken democratic governance at the local government level, and endanger peace and security in Osun State.
They therefore called on the DSS, the Nigeria Police, and the NCDSC to thoroughly investigate the allegations, invite the concerned individuals for questioning, and take appropriate steps to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
As of press time, efforts to obtain a response from Comrade Ogungbangbe or the leadership of NULGE proved unsuccessful. Analysts say the development further highlights the lingering local government crisis in Osun State and the pressing need for all parties to respect constitutional order and the authority of the courts.
