The Osun State Local Government Service Commission has redeployed five Heads of Local Government Administration to new duty posts, a decision that has further heightened political tension surrounding the control of council areas in the state.
The redeployment was conveyed in a letter dated January 26, 2025, signed by the commission’s Permanent Secretary, Mudashir Oyedeji.
Although no official reason was provided for the postings, attention has focused on the inclusion of Boripe Local Government Area, the hometown of former Osun State governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, as one of the councils affected by the changes.
According to the letter, Yakubu Adekunle Oni, who had been serving at the Irewole North East Local Council Development Authority, was redeployed to Boripe Local Government Area.
The document showed that all five officials were moved from Local Council Development Authorities to substantive local government councils.
The commission did not indicate where the officials previously overseeing the affected councils would be redeployed following the changes.
The letter partly read, “I wish to inform you that the Local Government Service Commission has approved the deployment of the underlisted Heads of Local Government.
“Bolaji Wasiu Ayoola, Emmanuel Oluwole Ademokoya, Adebisi Lateef Kayode, Yakubu Adekunle Oni, Isaac Tope Akinwumi
Present station: Ife South West LCDA, Oriade South LCDA, Ede East LCDA, Irewole North East LCDA, Egbedore South LCDA
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New station: Ola-Oluwa L.G, Atakumosa East LG, Oriade L.G, Boripe LG, Ife East Central LCDA
“The Officers affected by this deployment are to resume duties with immediate effect.”
The redeployment has sparked contrasting reactions across the state.
Supporters of the All Progressives Congress argued on social media on Tuesday that the postings were a calculated move to wrest control of certain council areas from political office holders currently administering them.
Supporters of Governor Ademola Adeleke dismissed the allegation, maintaining that the state government, as the employer of local government civil servants, has the authority to deploy officials whenever it deems necessary.
The development comes amid an ongoing dispute between the Adeleke administration and the Osun APC over the alleged illegal occupation of local government secretariats by APC-elected chairmen and councillors.
First Daily recalls that, Adeleke said during a statewide broadcast on Monday that the tenure of the APC chairmen and councillors ended on October 25, 2025.
The Osun APC has rejected the claim, alleging that its officials were removed from office in 2022 before being reinstated by the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, on February 10, 2025.
The party added that the affected officials are currently before the court, seeking a judicial determination on when their tenure of office legally commenced.