The crisis over local government administration in Osun State deepened on Wednesday as Governor Ademola Adeleke, the state government, and the PDP rejected claims by the APC that its former council chairmen still have the right to occupy local government offices.
The governor and the PDP maintained that the council chairmen elected under the previous APC administration lost their positions following court rulings that nullified the October 15, 2022 local government election. They insisted that the tenure of the chairmen had expired and could not be extended under existing laws and court decisions.
Governor Adeleke again accused former governor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, of playing a central role in the ongoing crisis. He blamed him for actions that have affected the payment of salaries and disrupted services at the local government level. The governor also warned against linking President Bola Tinubu to the dispute.
The Osun State Government pointed to proceedings at the Federal High Court in Osogbo, where a case filed by the APC on council tenure was adjourned to March 4, 2026, due to the absence of APC lawyers. The government said the election that produced the APC chairmen was nullified because it breached the Electoral Act and that no later judgment restored them to office.
According to the state government, the APC has continued to rely on an unresolved court case to justify its presence in council secretariats while failing to pursue the matter properly in court. It also raised concerns about the handling of local government funds during the dispute.
The PDP supported the governor’s position, stating that the APC chairmen never had a valid mandate since the election that brought them in was overturned before Adeleke assumed office. The party said the governor was acting within his constitutional duty to protect public funds until the legal issues are resolved. It also appealed to President Tinubu to encourage respect for court decisions to prevent further tension at the grassroots.
In response, Oyetola’s aide, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, accused Governor Adeleke of spreading false claims to cover up governance failures. He denied that Oyetola had any role in disrupting local government funding and argued that any delays were caused by the state government’s legal actions.
Akinola stated that local government offices were open and functioning and dismissed claims of paralysis. He referred to a Court of Appeal judgment delivered on February 10, 2025, which he said restored the APC chairmen and was not challenged by the state government, making it binding. He added that the chairmen were elected for a three-year term and were removed unlawfully shortly after taking office.
He further advised the governor to avoid interfering with local governments, noting that financial autonomy has been granted to councils by the Supreme Court and that issues surrounding tenure remain before the courts.
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