- Safiu Kehinde
The Imole Accord Movement, a support group of loyalists to Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has condemned the alleged presentation of the 2026 budget by sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) local government chairmen.
The chairmen were reported to have presented the 2026 local government budgets to the council legislative arm.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued on Tuesday, the Imole Accord Movement declared the budget presentation unconstitutional and illegal, stressing that chairmen have been lawfully sacked by competent courts long ago.
The group held that the executive powers of the chairmen had ceased since their sacking by the court which rendered their budget presentation illegitimate.
Citing the Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution, the Imole Accord Movement maintained that only democratically elected and lawfully recongised LG council chairmen can carry out such function.
It labelled the act by the APC chairmen as a charade and deliberate attempt to undermine governance.
The Imole Accord Movement demanded immediate cessation of what it described as illegal activities by sacked APC Yes/No chairmen across Osun State.
It reiterated that the court’s order must be obeyed, adding that Osun State will not return to the dark days of impunity.
“The Imole Accord Movement strongly condemns the unconstitutional and undemocratic actions of APC Yes/No chairmen who were lawfully sacked by competent courts long ago yet continue to parade themselves as local government executives in Osun State.
“Their reported acts of presenting 2026 local government budgets to council legislative arms are illegal and constitute a direct assault on the rule of law.
“Under Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), only democratically elected and lawfully recognised local government councils can exercise executive authority.
“Once chairpersons are removed by a competent court or their tenures end, all executive powers cease immediately.
“Presenting a budget is a core executive function reserved strictly for lawfully constituted local government councils.
“Any action taken by sacked chairmen in defiance of subsisting court orders is null, void and of no legal effect whatsoever.
“The Imole Accord Movement views this charade as a deliberate attempt by the APC to undermine governance, mislead the public and create institutional confusion under the guise of politics. Governance is not theatre and the constitution is not optional.
“Disobedience to court orders is a grave affront to democracy and must not be tolerated in any civil society.
“We further emphasize that local government funds are regulated within constitutional frameworks, including statutory oversight and the State Joint Local Government Account.
“No illegal budget however theatrically presented can authorize spending or bind any treasury. What the APC is staging is not governance, it is lawlessness dressed.
“Accordingly, the Imole Accord Movement demands the immediate cessation of all illegal activities by sacked APC Yes/No chairmen across Osun State.
“We also call on security agencies and relevant authorities to enforce court orders and protect constitutional order.
“We reassure the people of Osun State that Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration remains fully committed to due process, constitutionalism and people centred governance.
“Osun State will not return to the dark days of impunity. Court orders must be obeyed. The Constitution must prevail. Any attempt to sabotage lawful governance through illegal action will be lawfully and firmly resisted.”