The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to cease interference in local government administration following ongoing tensions over control of local councils.
The party’s response came after Governor Adeleke criticised former governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, for allegedly fuelling the dispute over council leadership.
Governor Adeleke, speaking on Monday during a statewide broadcast, said APC local government chairmen and councillors continued to occupy council secretariats despite court judgments nullifying their tenure.
He accused the former governor of using federal institutions and banks to support the officials and impose hardship on residents.
The controversy stems from conflicting claims over the legitimacy of local government leadership in Osun State. Fresh local government elections were held on February 22, 2025, following court orders.
Newly elected council chairmen and councillors were sworn in on February 23, 2025, and are recognised by Governor Adeleke as the lawful authorities.
However, former APC chairmen and councillors, whose elections were nullified by the Federal High Court and affirmed by the Court of Appeal, have continued to occupy council secretariats.
Adeleke described their presence as unlawful and blamed Oyetola for allegedly directing security forces and financial institutions to support the occupation.
Adeleke said in the broadcast that the ongoing occupation has disrupted local governance and called for respect for the rule of law.
He also demanded the release of more than N130 billion in statutory allocations to local governments, arguing the funds were withheld and undermining grassroots service delivery.
In response, the Osun APC, through its Director of Media, Kola Olabisi, rejected Adeleke’s allegations. The party said the governor overlooked the Court of Appeal’s February 10, 2025 ruling reinstating APC council officials.
The party also disputed claims that federal allocations were being withheld, asserting that ongoing legal actions by the Adeleke administration were delaying payments to the reinstated officials.
Adeleke said: “But the very act of seeking extension amounts to a clear admission, both in law and in fact, that whatever so-called tenure they claimed they had had expired.”
In its statement, the APC said: “Governor Adeleke should stop acting as a meddlesome interloper in local government affairs. He lacks locus standi to make a case for them, in the spirit of complete autonomy granted by the Supreme Court.”
The dispute highlights broader national debates over local government autonomy and constitutional governance in Nigeria.
The Supreme Court has affirmed full autonomy for local councils, and state-level clashes over implementation could influence interpretations of federal and state powers.
The disagreement between Governor Adeleke and the Osun APC underscores persistent political tensions over local government control. Both sides have reiterated their positions ahead of further legal and political developments in the state.
