Osun Political Showdown: Oyetola Fires Back at Adeleke Over Alleged Destabilization Plot

Osun Political Showdown: Oyetola Fires Back at Adeleke Over Alleged Destabilization Plot

The political temperature in Osun State is rising as the rift between Governor Ademola Adeleke and his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola, deepens over the recent Appeal Court judgement on local government administration.

The latest twist in the face-off saw Oyetola, now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, dismissing Adeleke’s claims that he is plotting to destabilize the state. Instead, the former governor urged his successor to respect the rule of law rather than resort to what he termed “cheap blackmail.”

The Controversial Appeal Court Judgement

The legal battle traces back to 2022, when Governor Adeleke, shortly after assuming office, sacked democratically elected local government officials—a move the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) challenged in court.

Last week, the Appeal Court ruled in favor of Oyetola’s APC, declaring that the removal of council officials was unlawful. Following the ruling, Oyetola called on security agencies to enforce the judgment, stressing that his approach has always been through legal channels, not violence.

Adeleke Sounds the Alarm

Governor Adeleke, however, sees things differently. He has alerted President Bola Tinubu, warning of a “planned mayhem” in the state. Adeleke believes that Oyetola and the APC are scheming to cause unrest, using the court verdict as a cover to push their political agenda.

Oyetola Claps Back

In a strongly worded statement, Oyetola rejected Adeleke’s allegations, labeling them baseless and unfounded. He maintained that his antecedents and track record in public service do not support the claim that he is instigating violence.

“Again, in 2022, when Governor Ademola Adeleke employed extrajudicial means to sack democratically elected council officials, Oyetola as the leader of the party never preached violence. Instead, he led the party members to court,” a statement from his camp read.

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He further insisted that any attempts to paint him as a troublemaker were mere political propaganda, adding that those pushing such narratives “need to have their heads properly examined.”

What Next for Osun State?

With the Osun APC emboldened by the Appeal Court victory and Governor Adeleke refusing to back down, the battle lines are drawn. The big question now is whether the ruling party will obey the court’s decision or if the case will escalate to the Supreme Court.

As tensions simmer, all eyes are on President Tinubu and how he will handle the brewing crisis in Osun—especially as both Adeleke and Oyetola belong to opposing political factions but remain key stakeholders in the nation’s governance.

Stay tuned for further updates on this developing political showdown!