Osun State was thrown into turmoil on Monday as the reinstated chairman of Irewole Local Government Area, Remi Abass, was reportedly killed in a violent confrontation linked to the ongoing political crisis in the state.
Eyewitness accounts alleged that Abass was shot dead by armed men believed to be loyal to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The violence erupted when Abass, alongside other local government officials who had recently been reinstated by a court ruling, attempted to reclaim control of the council secretariat in Ikire.
The situation quickly escalated as armed men reportedly stormed the premises, engaging in a gunfight with Abass and his supporters. Amid the chaos, Abass was killed, and several others sustained injuries. Witnesses say the assailants, allegedly PDP loyalists, blocked his escape and shot him at close range.
The unrest spilled onto the highway, where armed men fired shots into the air, causing widespread panic. Commuters and residents fled the area as gunmen took control of key roads, forcing motorists to seek alternative routes.
A source close to the incident recounted, “The thugs came out from the building opposite the secretariat, carrying guns. They specifically targeted the council chairman, surrounding him and not letting him escape before killing him.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Protocol and Government Affairs in the state, Soji Ajeigbe, reported that two PDP members, identified as Ege and Igara, were also killed in the clash, allegedly by armed men linked to the All Progressives Congress (APC). According to Ajeigbe, “Apart from those killed, six others lost their lives while trying to take control of the secretariat. The bodies have been moved to the morgue, and the injured are currently receiving treatment in the hospital.”
This latest development is part of the deepening political crisis in Osun, where both the APC and PDP are locked in a battle over control of the local government system. The APC maintains that a Court of Appeal ruling reinstated the previously dismissed council chairmen and councillors, while the Osun State Government insists that a Federal High Court judgment had already nullified their elections.
Governor Ademola Adeleke, addressing the public on Sunday, accused his predecessor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, of orchestrating violence in the state. “Mr. President is a true democrat who respects the rule of law. He would never support a dictatorial violation of the constitution or actions capable of generating bloodshed,” Adeleke stated.
In a statement on social media, Adeleke confirmed that at least five PDP members lost their lives in the clashes, with multiple others injured. He also directed security agencies to take control of all local government secretariats, urging residents to stay away to prevent further bloodshed.
“Following reports of a failed illegal takeover bid of local government councils by sacked APC chairmen and councillors, I hereby direct all Osun residents, including politicians, to stay away from the local government secretariats to protect public property and avoid further violence,” he posted.
The Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has since withdrawn its workforce across the state, further complicating governance at the local level.
As tensions rise, security agencies have been deployed to restore order, but fears of further violence remain high. Residents are calling for swift intervention from federal authorities to prevent a full-blown political crisis in Osun State.
