The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised Governor Ademola Adeleke’s directive ordering security agencies to halt all activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) across the state.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the opposition party described the directive as illegal, overreaching, unconstitutional and ultra vires of the governor’s powers.
Governor Adeleke had reportedly directed the police and other security agencies to immediately stop all NURTW activities in Osun State following a security meeting. He also instructed security operatives to arrest anyone parading himself as an official or executive of the union in any motor park across the state.
Reacting to the development, the APC, through its Director of Media and Information, Mogaji Kola Olabisi, argued that the governor lacked the constitutional authority to suspend the activities of a duly registered association.
APC cites constitutional rights
The party said the governor’s action was contrary to Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which guarantees the right to freedom of association.
According to the APC, disputes relating to the leadership or operations of the NURTW should be resolved through lawful channels, including the courts, rather than through executive directives.
“The latest illegal directive issued by the outgoing Governor Adeleke dabbling into the affairs of the management of the motor parks by the NURTW, which is a duly registered association, puts to question the quality of those offering legal advice to the embattled governor,” the statement read.
The party also expressed confidence that police officers would not enforce what it described as an unlawful order.
Background to the crisis
The APC recalled that following the leadership crisis that rocked the NURTW earlier in the week, chairmen of the 30 local government councils and the Ife-East Area Office, Modakeke, held an emergency meeting with transport union leaders, including motorcycle and tricycle unions.
According to the party, the meeting resolved to appoint a caretaker management committee pending further consultations with the national secretariat of the transport unions for the emergence of substantive state leaders.
Party cites Oyo Court of Appeal judgment
The APC further relied on a previous Court of Appeal judgment involving the Oyo State Government and the NURTW.
It recalled that Governor Seyi Makinde had in 2019 suspended the activities of the NURTW in Oyo State, citing a breakdown of law and order. However, the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan later declared the suspension unlawful and unconstitutional.
Quoting from the judgment delivered by Justice Kenneth Ikechukwu Amadi, the APC noted that the court held that while a state government has a duty to maintain law and order, it must do so within the bounds of the law.
The court also stated that alleged violent activities could be addressed by relevant security agencies, including the police, but that a state government could not suspend the activities of a registered association outside lawful procedures.
Directive not enforceable — APC
Based on the foregoing, the APC maintained that Governor Adeleke’s directive was not legally enforceable.
“The governor’s directive to the police is repugnant, ultra vires, illegal, overreaching and grossly unconstitutional, and cannot stand the test of time,” the statement added.
The statement was signed by Mogaji Kola Olabisi, Osun State APC Director of Media and Information.
Editor’s Note:
The report reflects the position of the Osun State APC as contained in its press statement. The Osun State Government had not issued an immediate response to the APC’s claims as of the time of publication.
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