The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of distorting facts on the status of local government councils and federal allocations in the state.
The party made this allegation during a press conference addressed by the APC State Chairman, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, on Tuesday at the party’s secretariat in Osogbo.o
At the press conference, Lawal who was represented by chief Kola Olabisi, said the party found it necessary to respond to what he described as a misleading statewide broadcast by the governor.
Lawal said, “that contrary to the impression created in the broadcast, it is patently false to access false to assert that the reinstated APC chairman and councillors are ‘illegally occupying’ local government Secretariats. Their return to office followed clear and subsisting judicial pronouncements, most notably the judgement of the court of appeal delivered on 10th February, 2025, which nullified the foundation upon which their earlier removal was predicated.”
”Adeleke’s repeated allegations that the federal government is withholding local government allocations is also deceptive. What he has consistently failed to disclose is that his administration and it allies are currently engaged in multiple suits across different courts, including actions against commercial bank, expressly aimed at preventing the release of statutory allocations to the reinstated APC local government officials.”
Speaking further lawal said the apex court clearly affirmed that local government councils are independent legal entities with the power to sue and be sued. He also stated that state governments have no legal right to act on their behalf regarding local government funds. “The apex court unequivocally affirmed the autonomy of local government councils,held that they are distinct legal entities with the capacity to sue and be sued. The judgement further held that state governments and by extension their Attorneys-General, lack locus standi to litigate on their behalf in matters relating to local government funds.
”it is therefore puzzling that Adeleke persists in acting as though local governments are appendages of the state executive, when the supreme Court has expressly rejected that notion.The appropriate course, consistent with constitutional order and good governor to allow elected local government authorities to function independently and to refrain from obstructing their access to funds lawfully due to them.”
Lawal also prompted Adeleke to rise beyond political propaganda and urge them to withdraw frivolous and obstructive allegations. “We urge Governor Adeleke to rise above the politics of bitterness, recrimination, and divisive rhetoric. Leadership, especially at a time of heightened political sensitivity, demands restraint, balance, and a conscious effort to de-escalate tensions rather than inflame them. Persistent distortion of judicial decisions, unfounded allegations against institutions, and emotionally charged broadcasts risk deepening divisions and undermining public confidence in democratic governance.”
Lawal said that funds are already held in commercial banks as directed by the Supreme Court and should be released to the intended local governments.
“The funds are already domicile in commercial banks in accordance with the supreme Court directives and should be allowed to reach the local governments for whom they are intended. The people of osun state deserve governance anchored in truth, constitutional fidelity, and respect for the rule of law, not persistent misinformation and manufactured conflicts.”
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