On Sunday, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state engaged in a fierce argument over the authority to collect market rates in local government areas.

Tensions escalated to the point where both parties threatened to arrest one another.

Since February, APC-elected chairmen have taken charge of local councils in Osun. However, Adeleke directed the PDP-elected chairmen and councillors, who were elected on February 21, not to report to work, further intensifying the dispute over control and revenue collection.

In a statement released by Governor Ademola Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor urged the Osun State Commissioner of Police to investigate the illegal tax collection activities by certain APC council chairmen. 

Adeleke accused the chairmen of forging official documents and using them to impose unlawful charges on traders. He called for action against those involved in the fraudulent activities, stressing the need to hold them accountable and stop the illegal practices.

Governor Ademola Adeleke recently raised concerns over an illegal revenue collection operation in Osun State, specifically accusing the APC-led Boripe Local Government chairman of unlawfully setting up a revenue taskforce. Adeleke emphasized that this move not only violated the law but also disrespected the court’s decision, especially since the APC had filed an appeal regarding the removal of its officials from office.

In response, the APC strongly rebuked the governor, urging him to stop violating the Constitution. The party called on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene, asking him to instruct the Osun State Commissioner of Police to investigate the state government’s alleged plans to target certain council officials by deploying fake policemen in an attempt to disrupt their efforts to maintain order in local markets.

APC spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, further accused the state government of using a series of tactics to block the return of the APC’s council officials, who had been reinstated following the Appeal Court’s ruling in Akure on February 10. Since then, the APC claims that the state government has been working to prevent these officials from resuming their duties despite the court's directive.

However, Adeleke countered by asserting that the APC chairmen are holding office illegally.

The APC refuted the governor's claims, stating that he and his team are refusing to acknowledge the court’s legal reinstatement of the APC chairmen and councillors. They emphasized their entitlement to oversee market activities and asked the police bosses to warn Adeleke and others causing trouble.