Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has cautioned the All Progressives Congress (APC) against undermining democracy by resorting to self-help in the administration of local government areas in Osun State.

Makinde issued this warning on Sunday during the swearing-in ceremony of 30 newly elected local government chairmen in Osun State. He urged the APC not to misuse federal influence to disrupt democratic processes.

“Recently, we convened in Lagos for the South-West Governors’ Forum meeting, with both PDP and APC governors in attendance. We united to address regional challenges, expecting support from all levels of government, as the essence of governance is delivering results to the people.

“When we observed unfolding events in Osun State, particularly the loss of lives, we deemed it necessary to intervene and issue a warning. We are all students of history and recall the turbulence that once earned the South-West the infamous ‘Wild Wild West’ tag. We must not allow a recurrence.”

He emphasised the importance of allowing due process to take its course, stating that even with a court ruling, legal procedures must be followed. “Possessing so-called federal might does not grant the authority to truncate due process. This is a federal system,” he added.

Congratulating the newly elected chairpersons, Makinde urged them to fulfil their electoral promises and justify the trust placed in them. “This is your chance to deliver governance at the grassroots. With the support of your governor and the state administration, you can achieve this. For some of you, this will be a stepping stone to greater responsibilities, as hard work begets more work.”

Makinde attended the ceremony alongside Bala Mohammed, Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, to demonstrate solidarity with Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.

The Osun local government election process was fraught with tensions. While the PDP secured all chairmanship positions, the APC dismissed the exercise. Law enforcement authorities and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, had previously advised the Osun State government against conducting the election due to security and legal concerns. However, Governor Adeleke remained resolute in proceeding with the polls.