OSOGBO—Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has described recent calls for the declaration of a state of emergency in the state as a “failed and desperate act” allegedly orchestrated by former Governor Gboyega Oyetola and Bola Oyebamiji.

In a statement issued in Osogbo on Saturday, Governor Adeleke accused unnamed civil society groups advocating emergency rule of acting as proxies for the Osun All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that there is no constitutional or factual basis for such a declaration.

He alleged that the opposition party is responsible for the lingering crisis at the local government level, accusing former APC officials of illegally occupying council offices, mismanaging local government funds, and instigating instability to undermine his administration.

Governor Adeleke maintained that his government has exercised restraint and maturity in handling the situation, adding that his administration has continued to pay local government workers despite what he described as unlawful control of council structures by APC-affiliated officials.

He further accused the opposition of forcefully occupying local government councils and allegedly hijacking council funds, actions he claimed were intended to provoke unrest and create grounds for emergency intervention.

The Governor warned that any attempt to disrupt public peace would be met with the full weight of the law. He directed the Commissioner of Police to closely monitor developments and called on the Inspector General of Police to ensure security agencies act decisively against any destabilising moves.

Governor Adeleke also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene by calling former Governor Oyetola to order, stating that political disputes should be resolved through democratic processes rather than through “unconstitutional shortcuts.”

He emphasized that political power must be secured at the ballot box and insisted that Osun people would not accept what he termed an unconstitutional agenda.

The statement was signed by Mallam Olawale Rasheed, spokesperson to the Osun State Governor.