The President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Osun State, Dr. Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, has condemned the recent takeover of local government secretariats by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the action as illegal and a direct threat to democracy.
In a statement issued in Osogbo on Tuesday, Dr. Ogungbangbe denounced the forceful occupation of the secretariats, calling it a violation of due process and an attempt to destabilize local governance.
He warned that such actions could lead to disorder and disrupt essential services at the grassroots level.
Ogungbagbe emphasized that the proper channel for reinstating the sacked local government officials should be through the courts, not through forceful occupation.
“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.
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“It should be noted that the Action Peoples Party (APP) secured a judgment against the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) at the Federal High Court in Osogbo on November 30, 2022. This judgment nullified the October 2022 local government election, meaning that the seats of all chairmen and councillors across Osun State remain vacant.
He criticized the APC’s move, labeling it not only unlawful but also a dangerous precedent that undermines the rule of law.
“Anyone parading themselves as elected chairmen or councillors in Osun State today is an impostor and a usurper. They are enemies of democratic governance,” Ogungbangbe stated..
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.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
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