Your Claim On LG Crisis False, Misleading – Osun Govt Fires Back At TOM
Osun State Government has dismissed accusations by a group, The Osun Masterminds, regarding the violent crisis that erupted over the forceful takeover of local government secretariats by opposition politicians.
The government described the group’s claims as an attack on the truth and accused it of attempting to distort facts to favor the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the state government maintained that the local government elections conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) on February 22, 2025, were in full compliance with the law.
Alimi accused TOM of partisanship and misrepresentation of events, stating that the group failed to acknowledge a valid court ruling that had nullified the previous local government election held under the Gboyega Oyetola administration.
He also noted that the February 10, 2025, Appeal Court judgment cited by the group did not order the reinstatement of the sacked officials.
“Ordinarily, we would have ignored the positions of Masterminds given the character of its membership and political persuasions, but we find it necessary to clarify some false assumptions made by the group,” Alimi stated.
The commissioner further dismissed TOM’s criticisms of the recent local government elections, arguing that the elections adhered strictly to legal provisions, including the mandatory 365-day notice as stipulated by the Electoral Act, 2022.
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He accused the group of echoing APC’s misinformation and attempting to discredit a legally conducted election.
“It is sickening that the Masterminds would critique an election that was held within 365 days’ notice as provided for by the Electoral Act, 2022, yet make a case for an election that was conducted within 60 days of issuing notice, violating not just Sections 28 and 150 of the Electoral Act, 2022, but also the provisions in the OSSIEC 2022 laws.”
He also criticized the group for failing to acknowledge PDP supporters who were killed in the crisis, while only mentioning the name of an APC member who lost his life. Alimi listed PDP casualties from various local governments, accusing APC thugs of perpetrating the violence.
He said, “To show the extent of Masterminds partisanship, it could remember the name of Remi Abass, a member of the APC killed in the crisis, but totally avoided mentioning PDP members- Damilare Olumide and Oyebamiji Taiwo from Boripe LG, Abdullahi Olawale Ayanfe from Ola-Oluwa LG, Bakare Toheed from Ikire LG, and Hon. Kasali Adebayo and Mr. Ismaila Ibrahim from Ilesa West- who were killed by thugs suspected to belong to the APC.”
While condemning the group for allegedly serving as a political tool to manipulate public perception, the commissioner reiterated Governor Adeleke’s efforts to prevent the crisis, including calls for peace and public awareness of the escalating tensions.
“While we recognise the rights of every citizen to hold political beliefs, we however reject the antics of groups like the Masterminds, to manipulate the public for political purposes.
“The recent crisis in Osun was needless but an attempt by desperate politicians to foist themselves on the people. Partisan groups like the Masterminds cannot twist this fact from the public,” Alimi concluded.
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.
