TEXT OF PRESS CONFERENCE BY TRANSPARENCY CENTRE NETWORK (TCN) ON THE CONTINUED ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS IN OSUN STATE BY APC OPERATIVES IN DEFIANCE OF COURT OF APPEAL JUDGMENT

Delivered by Comrade Ayuba Ahmed, Executive Director, Transparency Centre Network (TCN)

Date: June 25, 2025

Venue: Abuja, Nigeria

Gentlemen of the Press,

Esteemed Members of Civil Society,

Fellow Advocates of Democracy and Rule of Law,

We welcome you all to this urgent and critical press conference organized by the Transparency Centre Network (TCN), a frontline civic coalition dedicated to defending Nigeria?s democracy, entrenching rule of law, and promoting transparency in governance.

Today, we raise our voices not in partisanship, but in defence of the Nigerian Constitution, the sanctity of our judiciary, and the soul of democratic governance at the grassroots level. We are here because we can no longer remain silent in the face of a brazen, calculated, and illegal usurpation of public office in Osun State?a crime against the spirit and letter of our Constitution.

You are all aware that the Court of Appeal?a court of competent jurisdiction and final arbiter on appeals short of the Supreme Court?delivered a definitive judgment nullifying the conduct of the Local Government elections in Osun State carried out by the previous administration. The Court declared the process illegal and unconstitutional, effectively voiding the legitimacy of the purportedly elected APC council chairmen and councillors.

Yet, weeks after this judgment, the APC functionaries in question have refused to vacate the Local Government Council Secretariats across Osun State. They continue to parade themselves as legitimate public officeholders, desecrating the authority of the judiciary, undermining democracy, and plunging our constitutional order into chaos.

This impunity is not just shameful?it is unconstitutional, criminal, and unsustainable.

We align ourselves fully and without reservation with the well-articulated and courageous position of renowned legal icon, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who condemned this executive lawlessness as a dangerous threat to Nigeria?s democracy. In a detailed and patriotic submission, Chief Ozekhome rightly insisted that obeying court judgments is not optional, especially not for elected officials who swore to uphold the law.

We ask: What message is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sending to Nigerians if his administration tolerates the violation of appellate court decisions by members of his political party? What signal is Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) giving the nation by allowing his silence to embolden illegality?

We therefore demand immediate action. The President and the AGF must move swiftly to enforce the judgment of the Court of Appeal, expel all illegal occupants from the Osun LG Council Secretariats, and restore lawful governance at the grassroots.

Let us be clear: This is not an Osun State issue. This is a national emergency. Because once the judiciary becomes toothless, democracy collapses. Once court orders are ignored with impunity, tyranny reigns. And once those entrusted with upholding the law abdicate their duties, the entire edifice of constitutional governance disintegrates.

We remind President Tinubu and the AGF that Section 287(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) compels every authority and person, including the President and AGF, to obey and enforce the decisions of the Court of Appeal. They cannot cherry-pick which laws or judgments to respect based on political convenience.

We are giving the Federal Government one week?seven (7) days?to act decisively and lawfully.

If by the end of this ultimatum, no concrete action has been taken to expel the APC impostors from the Osun LG councils, the Transparency Centre Network will lead a nationwide protest to the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation in Abuja. We shall mobilize democratic forces across the country?civil society, student unions, professional associations, and everyday Nigerians?to demand justice and defend the integrity of our judiciary.

This will not be a mere symbolic protest. It will be a full-scale, peaceful demonstration to remind those in power that Nigeria belongs to all of us. We will not fold our arms and allow political actors to convert our LG councils into illegal outposts of political conquest.

We are also calling on:

1. The Inspector-General of Police, to immediately act in line with the Court?s decision and assist in expelling all unauthorized persons from the council secretariats.

2. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), to speak out and mobilize the legal community to defend the authority of the courts.

3. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), to monitor and intervene where the rights of lawfully appointed council officials are being suppressed.

4. And the international community, especially human rights and democratic governance observers, to take note of this egregious undermining of judicial integrity in Nigeria.

Let history record that when our constitutional order was on trial, we did not remain silent.

Let it be known that Transparency Centre Network stood firmly on the side of truth, legality, and justice.

We shall not blink. We shall not be intimidated. We shall not retreat.

Democracy must win. The rule of law must prevail.

Thank you and may Nigeria rise above lawlessness.

Signed:

COMRADE AYUBA AHMED,

Executive Director, Transparency Centre Network (TCN).

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