At least five people lost their lives on Monday in Osun State following violent clashes between supporters of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over control of local government secretariats.
Among the casualties was Remi Abass, former chairman of Irewole Local Government in Ikire.
The Osun State Commissioner for Protocols and Governmental Affairs, Soji Ajeigbe, also confirmed the deaths of Damilare Oloyede and a man identified as Taye, who were reportedly shot in Iragbiji and Boripe local government areas.
The crisis erupted as political functionaries attempted to take over secretariats, escalating into a deadly confrontation between rival party supporters. Security forces have since been deployed to restore order as tensions remain high in the state.
Ajeigbe, while addressing newsmen in Iragbiji, alleged that Damilare and Taye who were PDP members, were killed by agents of the opposition APC around Boripe local government area secretariat in Iragbiji.
Also briefing the press at the secretariat of APC in Osogbo, Alhaji Jamiu Olawumi accused members of the ruling PDP of killing three members the APC including Abass, a yet-to-be identified Councillor in Olaoluwa local government and another member of APC from Isokan local government.
Olawumi also affirmed that no fewer than fifteen of the Court of Appeal reinstated council chairmen assumed office by 9am while by 9:30am, virtually all other council chairmen assumed office only to be chased out by hoodlums of PDP later.
APC vowed that all elected party functionaries reinstated by the Appeal Court verdict of 10th of February, 2025 will continue to go to office as ordered by the appellate court.
Violence broke out in virtually all the local government areas across the state earlier on Monday as the sacked council chairmen attempted to assume office following the court verdict.
Recall that both parties have been laying claims to contradictory interpretations of court processes with the APC claiming that the appeal court reinstated the local government chairmen elected under former Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
The ruling party has however, denied this claim, insisting that their reinstatement was not pronounced by the appellate court.