The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised Governor Ademola Adeleke’s directive suspending the activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) across the state, describing the move as unconstitutional and beyond the governor’s legal powers.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the APC argued that the governor lacked the authority to halt the operations of a legally registered association or order the arrest of individuals claiming to be NURTW officials.
The party said the directive followed the recent leadership crisis within the union, which had prompted local government authorities to temporarily suspend the union’s leadership and transport union activities while consultations with the NURTW national leadership continued.
According to the APC, chairmen of the 30 local government councils and the Ife-East Area Office in Modakeke had met with transport unions, including motorcycle and tricycle operators, and agreed to establish a caretaker management committee pending the emergence of substantive state leaders.
The opposition party accused Governor Adeleke of interfering in the internal affairs of the union, insisting that the action violated Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees citizens the right to freedom of association.
The APC further questioned the legal advice being given to the state government, arguing that the governor’s directive amounted to executive overreach.
The party expressed confidence that security agencies would not enforce what it described as an unlawful order, maintaining that disputes involving the NURTW should be resolved through the courts rather than executive directives.
To support its position, the APC referenced a Court of Appeal judgment involving the Oyo State Government and the NURTW, where the court reportedly ruled that Governor Seyi Makinde’s 2019 suspension of the union’s activities was unconstitutional.
According to the party, the appellate court held that although state governments have a responsibility to maintain law and order, such powers must be exercised within constitutional limits and cannot be used to suspend the activities of a registered association without legal backing.
The APC also noted that the court ruled allegations of violence alone were insufficient grounds to suspend the union, adding that any criminal conduct should instead be addressed through security agencies and the judicial process.
The party called on Governor Adeleke to immediately withdraw the directive, insisting it was unlawful, unconstitutional, and exceeded the powers of the state government.
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