The continued occupation of local government secretariats in Osun State by the APC “Yes or No” chairmen is becoming more than a political disagreement. It is increasingly a test of whether the rule of law still means anything when political interests are involved. You cannot continue to claim ownership of what is no longer legally yours.
The chairmen in question cannot pretend that remaining physically present in the councils automatically restores a mandate that has expired. Their tenure has run its course, while a Federal High Court judgment has reportedly removed them from office. More importantly, that judgment has not been stayed. So, on what basis are they still occupying the councils?
Public office is not inherited. It is not sustained by party loyalty, political connections, or the ability to occupy an office physically. Its legitimacy comes from the law. And when the law withdraws that legitimacy, continued occupation does not create legality. It only deepens the controversy.
When Political Protection Disappears
There is another lesson that the “Yes or No” chairmen should perhaps consider. In Nigerian politics, political protection can disappear overnight. A recent development involving the APC deputy governorship candidate offers a cautionary example. According to an account from someone close to the candidate, he was encouraged to believe that party leaders had given their blessing before he proceeded with a tribunal petition. But when the political temperature changed, those who were said to have supported the move reportedly stepped back, leaving the candidate to face the consequences.
Whether in the courtroom or in political circles, the lesson is simple: never confuse political backing with personal immunity. Those applauding you today may not be standing beside you when accountability comes tomorrow. The “Yes or No” chairmen should therefore ask themselves a simple question: If the political protection they currently enjoy disappears, who will answer for their continued occupation of the councils? Because ultimately, the responsibility will not belong to those whispering encouragement from behind the scenes. It will belong to the individuals who chose to remain.
The People Are Paying the Price
The most unfortunate part of this prolonged political struggle is that ordinary Osun residents are the ones bearing the consequences. Local government is supposed to be the closest level of government to the people, where residents expect to access basic services and grassroots development. But when local councils become battlegrounds for political control, governance suffers.
Primary healthcare services, civil registration, community projects, and other grassroots responsibilities can become paralyzed. Local economies suffer as businesses and markets feel the effects of weakened administration. Workers, pensioners, and other beneficiaries can be caught in disputes surrounding local government finances and allocations. Even more disturbing is the violence and insecurity that have accompanied the struggle in some communities. People have been injured. Lives have reportedly been lost. Residents have been left afraid and frustrated. For the average Osun citizen, this is not about which political party wins an argument. It is about whether their local government works.
Osun People Deserve Better
The people of Osun did not elect local government chairmen to turn council secretariats into permanent political battlefields. They deserve functioning councils, legitimate representation, and leaders whose authority is recognized by law. Political contests will come and go. Parties will change positions. Political allies will become opponents, and former opponents may become allies. But the people remain.
That is why the APC “Yes or No” chairmen must confront the reality before them. If the legal foundation of their tenure has collapsed and the court judgment remains unstayed, continued occupation cannot magically transform an expired mandate into a valid one. The question is no longer about who can hold on the longest. It is about whether the rule of law will prevail.
A word should be enough for the wise: political shelter is temporary, but the consequences of decisions made in public office can last much longer. The local government councils belong to the people of Osun State and must operate within the framework of the law. No politician, regardless of party affiliation or political connection, should be allowed to turn public office into personal property.
The time has come to end the occupation, restore legitimate grassroots governance, and allow the people of Osun to get back what they truly own: government that works for them.
Signed:
Comrade James Onifade
Advocate for Good Governance and Judicial Reform
