PDP Lawmakers in Osun State Affirm Unity, Reject Parallel Leadership
Amid political tensions in Osun State, lawmakers elected on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform have declared their unwavering support for the party’s state leadership and denounced any rival factions. The caucus, comprising members of the National Assembly and the Osun State House of Assembly, made the declaration following a closed-door meeting in Osogbo on Saturday.
The meeting, attended by the State Working Committee led by Chairman Sunday Bisi and other senior party figures, reviewed recent developments, including a dispute over local government administration. Speaking to journalists, Deputy Senate Minority Leader Senator Lere Oyewumi stated the caucus reaffirmed its confidence in Bisi and the State Working Committee as the duly recognised state executives.
“After deliberations, we reaffirm our confidence in Hon. Sunday Bisi and the State Working Committee. They remain the duly recognised executives of the party across the state,” Oyewumi said. He specified that this endorsement extends to the party’s structures in all 30 local government areas, area offices, and 332 wards, describing them as “intact and fully functional.”
The lawmakers firmly dismissed the existence of any alternative leadership within the party’s Osun chapter. “Any individual or association presenting itself as a parallel leadership does not enjoy the support of the elected PDP lawmakers in Osun State and should not be accorded legitimacy,” Oyewumi stated. He added that recent political realignments involving Governor Ademola Adeleke have not weakened the party’s foundation, asserting that the PDP remains robust at national, state, and grassroots levels.
A significant portion of the discussion focused on the controversy surrounding control of local government secretariats. The caucus condemned the alleged occupation of council offices by members of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and called for federal intervention. They appealed to President Bola Tinubu to direct those “occupying the local government secretariats unlawfully to vacate immediately.”
The lawmakers emphasised that the state government has pursued legal and constitutional avenues rather than confrontation. “As a law-abiding party and government, we have opted for the path of peace and constitutional process to avoid plunging the state into crisis,” Oyewumi added.
The caucus also urged the President to ensure federal institutions, particularly regarding local government finances, operate within constitutional limits. They advocated for direct payment of allocations into accounts managed by constitutionally recognised career officers.
Concerns were raised about the role of security operatives, with the caucus alleging police presence at council secretariats has exacerbated the situation. They called on Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun to direct officers to return to regular duties and ensure the police force acts professionally and within the rule of law.
The resolution underscores the PDP’s attempt to project unity and institutional continuity in Osun State while framing the local government impasse as a constitutional issue requiring federal oversight. The appeals to the President and police chief signal an escalation of the party’s strategy beyond state-level politics.
