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Osun State Governance Crisis: A Web of Controversies and Avoidable Brickbats

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The control of power and governance at the Local Government level in Osun State has taken a different dimension with an open letter from eight federal lawmakers from the state to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The lawmakers, all of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) extraction, invited the President to intervene over the continuous withholding of local government allocation to the 30 Local Government councils of Osun State. However, the only All Progressives Congress (APC) federal lawmaker, Honourable Wole Oke, accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State of attempting to blackmail the President, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), and other high-ranking officials.

Key Takeaways:

  • The controversy over local government control in Osun State has taken a new turn with an open letter from eight PDP federal lawmakers to President Tinubu, requesting his intervention in the matter.
  • The lawmakers accused Governor Adeleke of withholding local government allocation to the 30 Local Government councils of Osun State, a claim the Governor denies.
  • Honourable Wole Oke, the sole APC federal lawmaker from the state, accused Governor Adeleke of attempting to blackmail the President and other high-ranking officials.
  • The dispute dates back to the 2022 local government election, which was nullified by a Federal High Court in Osun State. The APC council chairmen and councillors, who were sacked by the Governor, are still operating from hideouts, while those sworn-in by the Governor operate from hideouts.
  • Despite the Court of Appeal's ruling that the APC council officials remain lawfully sacked, the APC holds that the same judgment further affirmed the legitimacy of its council officials as the rightful officeholders.
  • The Council chairmen have decided to appoint new treasurers to access council funds and deliver dividends of democracy to the grassroot, but this move is being strongly opposed by PDP federal lawmakers.
  • The APC federal lawmaker, Honourable Wole Oke, accused Governor Adeleke of not listening to advice and ignoring the court's ruling on the matter.

Statistics:

  • Eight PDP federal lawmakers from Osun State signed the open letter to President Tinubu.
  • The Court of Appeal delivered a judgment on February 10, 2025, reinstating the APC council officials.
  • The Governor's Executive Order sacked APC council chairmen and councillors immediately after taking office.
  • The Court of Appeal held on Friday, June 13, 2025, that the APC's appeal for reinstatement was abandoned for two years and that the APC had committed self-inflicted injuries.

Sources:

  • Open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed by eight PDP federal lawmakers from Osun State.
  • Daily Sun investigation.
  • Court of Appeal judgment dated February 10, 2025.
  • Court of Appeal judgment dated June 13, 2025.
  • The Sun newspaper.

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