The Osun State Government has warned the Nigeria Police Force against accepting vehicles from local government chairmen elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, insisting that those currently managing council areas lack a valid mandate to remain in office.

The government described the proposed donation of security vehicles as a “poisoned gift with malicious, mischievous, and harmful intentions,” urging the police to reject the gesture in order to safeguard the integrity and reputation of the law enforcement agency.

This position was contained in a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, a copy of which was obtained in Osogbo on Friday.

PUNCH Online reports that the Osun State chapter of the APC had earlier announced that local government chairmen in the state would proceed with plans to donate operational vehicles to the police to enhance security operations.

The APC, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, criticised the ruling party in the state and Governor Ademola Adeleke, stating that the protection of lives and property should take precedence over political considerations.

The party argued that support for security agencies should not be politicised, maintaining that providing logistical assistance to the police was necessary to combat crime effectively.

However, the Osun State Government insisted that the donation should be rejected, condemning what it described as the politicisation of security matters by the APC.

According to the government, the individuals currently occupying local government offices under the APC lack legal backing, as the matter of their tenure remains subject to ongoing litigation.

“The so-called APC council executives, who have imposed themselves on the local governments without any legal basis, should not be seen as legitimate authorities providing support to security agencies,” the statement read.

The government further noted that the legal dispute over the tenure of the chairmen is already before the courts, with judgments expected on May 12 and May 21, 2026.

It urged the state Commissioner of Police to uphold the neutrality of the force and avoid actions that could compromise its institutional credibility.

The government also called on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene by directing officers in the Osun State Command to reject the vehicles pending the outcome of the court rulings.

The dispute over control of local government councils in the state stems from conflicting claims by chairmen elected during the February 22, 2025, local government election conducted under Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration and those elected on the platform of the APC in the October 15, 2022, election held during the tenure of former governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

Although the APC-backed chairmen are currently administering the councils, the parties remain before different courts seeking judicial validation of their respective positions.

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, and the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, on Thursday, warned that Nigeria could end up having only one presidential candidate in the 2027 election if the judiciary continues to interfere in political party affairs.

They spoke at the fifth Comrade Yinka Odumakin Memorial Lecture held at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

The event had in attendance the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero; activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore; and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olumide Fusika.

It was hosted by the President of the Oluyinka Odumakin Foundation, Dr Joe Odumakin, and was also attended by the Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Mr Lanre Arogundade; other activists, including Agba Jalingo and Richard Akinola.

Delivering the memorial lecture, Falana asserted that court orders and conflicting judgments were being used to destabilise political parties and could lead to a situation where only one political party would present a presidential candidate in the 2027 election.

He spoke against the backdrop of Wednesday’s pronouncement of the Independent National Electoral Commission that it would no longer recognise the factions of the African Democratic Congress led by David Mark or Rafiu Bala.

The INEC based its decision on a Court of Appeal judgment, which directed the commission to maintain the status quo pending the determination of a suit challenging the legality of David Mark’s leadership of the opposition party.

Speaking, Falana criticised the judiciary for interfering in the internal affairs of political parties despite provisions of the Electoral Act prohibiting such interference.

Falana said, “Through the manipulation of Nigerian courts and senior lawyers, you may have only one candidate contesting the presidential election in this country.

If that happens, Nigeria may not even need to spend money on a presidential election.”

Falana warned that actions capable of undermining democracy could provoke unrest if Nigerians felt they no longer had a genuine electoral choice.

He urged civil society groups, labour unions and political activists to organise and defend democratic values, warning that unorganised protests could lead to anarchy rather than meaningful change.

“We must stop agonising and start organising in the interest of our people and democracy,” he said.

Speaking in the same vein, Adams warned that Nigeria was gradually drifting towards a one-party system, accusing those in power of using the judiciary to suppress opposition parties and the will of the people.

He said the situation reminded him of the political repression experienced during the military era and the struggle for democracy in the 1990s.

Adams said, “We are moving towards a one-party system. Those in power are using the judiciary to suppress the will of the people. We may end up having only one presidential candidate in Nigeria if care is not taken.”

He urged Nigerians not to remain silent because their ethnic group was in power, noting that political power rotates and silence in the face of injustice could later be used against those who failed to speak up.

According to him, Nigerians must continue to speak against injustice and defend democracy regardless of ethnic or political affiliations.

He added that the best way to honour the late Odumakin was for activists and civil society groups to remain committed to justice, democracy and good governance in Nigeria.

Delivering a lecture titled, “Can Nigeria’s Democracy Work without Restructuring?” Falana said restructuring had already been taking place in the country, but largely in favour of the political class, especially state governors and members of the ruling elite.

According to him, Nigeria operated more like a federal system in the First Republic when regions controlled the police, courts and local governments, but the 1999 Constitution returned the country to a unitary system with more items on the Exclusive Legislative List.

He said, “In 1963, there were about 45 items on the Exclusive List, but today we have about 68 items. Practically everything is controlled by Abuja. What we have now is more of a unitary system than a federal system.”

Falana explained that some powers had been taken from the Federal Government through court cases filed by states, particularly on issues such as local government administration, Value Added Tax, and control of land.

He noted that despite the agitation for restructuring, many state governments had failed to utilise the powers already granted to them, especially in areas like electricity generation, railways and prisons, which were moved from the Exclusive List.

He said, “Some of those who shout restructuring don’t believe in it. Electricity, railways and prisons were removed from the Exclusive List, but how many states have generated electricity, built rail lines or established prisons? None.”

Speaking on the debate over state police, Falana warned that the system could be abused by state governors to suppress political opponents, citing abuses recorded during the First Republic when regional governments controlled the police.

He said the Police Council, which includes the President, Inspector-General of Police, Chairman of the Police Service Commission and state governors, was supposed to manage the Federal Police collectively, but the body hardly met, leaving policing effectively in the hands of the President.

Falana also criticised the political class for cornering the country’s resources, especially oil blocks and solid minerals, alleging that a few individuals had become extremely wealthy through government allocations of oil blocks and mining licences.

He said illegal mining and smuggling of minerals were also contributing to insecurity in some parts of the country, as unemployed youths were being recruited into illegal mining operations and criminal activities.

Fusika (SAN) warned that the nation was approaching a dangerous end, especially with pervasive insecurity.

He, however, rallied all Nigerians to unite to tackle the issues facing the country.

Human rights activist Akinola decried what he described as the “incestuous relationship” between the executive and the judiciary.

“Politicians have hijacked the judiciary, and it is dangerous,” he said.

Speaking, NLC President Ajaero argued that Nigeria has been hijacked by a few persons benefitting from the present centralised structure.

He spoke in favour of restructuring, devolution of powers,  localising resources to decouple the present centralised structure and state police.

On calls for revolution, Ajaero warned that such a move must be organised so that it does not lead to anarchy.

In his remarks, Sowore opined that the President Bola Tinubu administration was driving Nigerians to push for a revolution.

Sowore said, “These are revolutionary times if we take advantage of them. I predicted, when President Bola Tinubu came to power, that he was the one who would lead us to a revolution in Nigeria. It is up to the Nigerian people to take charge of the moment and the opportunity he has provided for the revolution.

“Tinubu is on a highway driving you to a revolution, and you still have not got the message. But he will make it happen because this country cannot escape a revolution.

“Tinubu’s most important duty as President is to drive this country in a revolutionary direction where he, the rest of his colleagues, ministers, and friends will be strangers to the system that they think they brought about, where they think everybody is foolish and in need of handouts.”

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Nyesom Wike, has declared that the internal storm rocking the party has subsided, announcing an open-door policy for former members seeking a return.

Speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Friday, Wike likened politics to a game of football rather than a “fight to finish”.

He urged aggrieved politicians to set aside personal differences for the sake of the party’s progress.

Addressing the fallout from the party’s recent national convention, the former Rivers State governor stated that the time for internal bickering had passed, stressing that the party was now focused on reconciliation and rebuilding its ranks.

“As far as I’m concerned, the convention has come and gone. People are trooping in. I will say, the door is open. Yes, we have had crisis. Now the crisis is over. Do we still have to shut our doors? No. Certainly not,” Wike said.

The minister revealed that several members who had previously dumped the PDP had already signalled their intention to return, noting that the political environment was becoming increasingly acceptable for those ready to do the work.

Wike also took a swipe at the do-or-die mentality often associated with Nigerian politics, suggesting that such an approach made reconciliation impossible.

He framed the party’s recent struggles as a misunderstanding of intentions rather than a permanent fracture.

“Politics is not a fight to finish. It’s like a game, like a football. If you see it as a do or die, it becomes difficult to reconcile. For us, it’s not that way.

“We have had our differences, but if you’re really sincere, there’s nothing left. We can do it together and move the party forward,” he said.

Sending a message to aspiring candidates, Wike warned that political relevance was earned through visibility and hard work, not title alone.

He hinted that those who remained on the sidelines would not be recognised as serious contenders in future polls.

“There’s no doubt that we have a lot of work to do, but what is important is that we have put the convention behind us,” he added.

PUNCH Online reports that the PDP has been embroiled in a leadership crisis since 2025, with rival factions holding separate conventions and fighting for control of the party in court.

This has stoked fears about the opposition’s unity ahead of the 2027 elections.

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