Political tensions in Nigeria’s Osun State escalated this week as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed claims by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that federal officials were withholding funds from local governments. The PDP had petitioned international diplomatic and human rights organizations, alleging that two ministers in President Bola Tinubu’s administration blocked allocations meant for Osun’s local councils in defiance of a court order.
The APC, in a statement issued Monday by its Osun State Media Director Kola Olabisi, called the petition a “waste of time” and accused the PDP of spreading misinformation. The dispute traces back to conflicting court rulings on the legitimacy of local government leaders. The PDP insists a February 2025 Court of Appeal judgment recognized its elected chairpersons and councillors, and it accused Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi and Marine Affairs Minister Adegboyega Oyetola—both APC members—of orchestrating the alleged fund blockade.
The APC countered that the same appellate court had in fact reinstated its own local officials, adding that allocations were being processed for “the true owners of the funds.” The party questioned why the PDP withdrew an appeal to the Supreme Court if it believed its case held merit. “Why run to NGOs instead of following legal procedures for contempt?” the APC asked, emphasizing that only courts—not international bodies—could resolve the matter.
Further complicating the feud, the APC cited a recent Supreme Court ruling reaffirming local government financial autonomy and accused the PDP-led state government of mismanaging ₦84 billion (approximately $100 million) in council funds. It labeled the PDP a “meddlesome interloper” for challenging federal ministers overseeing allocation disbursements.
The PDP has yet to publicly respond to the APC’s latest allegations. The clash underscores longstanding tensions over local governance in Nigeria, where disputes about fund distribution often pit state and federal authorities against each other. International observers closely monitor such conflicts, as they reflect broader struggles over resource control and judicial independence in Africa’s most populous democracy.
