A civil society organisation, the World Institute for Peace, has accused the Osun State Government of misleading the public over the administration of local government councils and the release of statutory allocation funds in the state.
In a press statement issued on Friday by its Executive Director, Mr Lamina Kamiludeen Omotoyosi, the institute said controversies surrounding local government administration in Osun stemmed from what it described as the unlawful dissolution of elected councils by the state government in 2022.
According to the statement, “This press statement is issued to clarify legal facts based on judicial pronouncements of competent courts, particularly the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and to put an end to deliberate misinformation being circulated by the Osun State Government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”
Lamina reading the requests made by the APC local government chairman at the court of appeal stated the following ”An order setting aside the judgement of the Federal High Court which validated their removal, a declaration that the dissolution of elected local government councils by the Osun State Government was unconstitutional, illegal, null and void, an order reinstating the democratically elected APC chairmen and councillors to complete their constitutionally guaranteed tenure”
Omotoyosi said the Court of Appeal, in its majority judgement delivered in February 2025, allowed the appeal filed by the APC chairmen, set aside the earlier judgement of the Federal High Court and ordered the reinstatement of the dissolved councils.
The institute further stated that the Supreme Court upheld the position of the Court of Appeal, declaring local governments a constitutionally recognised tier of government and ruling that funds meant for councils belong exclusively to them.
“The apex court held that state governments have no authority to dissolve, suspend or control elected local government councils, nor interfere with their allocation funds,” the statement said.
He further warned the Osun state government to “stay away from local government matter,focus on responsibilities constitutionally assigned to the state government as well as respect and obey the judgement of the Supreme Court as required by the law.
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