Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has denied allegations made by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that he bribed the leadership of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE). The governor described the claims as baseless and a threat to democracy and the judiciary.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke stated that the APC’s claims were unfounded and an attempt to undermine the rule of law. He emphasized that the APC’s continuous attacks and falsehoods demonstrate the opposition’s disregard for the judiciary and democratic principles.

The governor pointed out that the APC had previously falsified a Court of Appeal judgment to claim a fake reinstatement of its court-sacked chairmen. He also noted that the APC had ignored a valid judgment that affirmed the legality of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmen and councillors across the local governments.

According to Governor Adeleke, the APC’s actions constitute a serious threat to democratic life in the state. He stated that the party’s behavior is like that of “political robbers in a lawless country,” invading and occupying council secretariats without a legal mandate.

The governor urged the public to disregard the APC’s allegations, stating that the workers’ union is an independent body that needs no inducement to protect its own interests. He emphasized that the fight to stop the attempted looting of the local government treasury is a collective effort of all stakeholders who need no inducement to act responsibly.

The APC had earlier accused Governor Adeleke of financially inducing striking NULGE officials to sustain their prolonged absence from work. The party alleged that the governor paid senior NULGE officials large sums to continue their strike, citing a viral video as evidence.

However, Governor Adeleke’s administration has denied these allegations, stating that the opposition’s claims are a manifestation of their disregard for the judiciary and democratic principles. The situation highlights the ongoing tension between the state government and the APC, with the judiciary set to make a final pronouncement on the matter.

The development has significant implications for the state’s local government administration and the welfare of its citizens. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the judiciary will resolve the dispute and what impact it will have on the state’s democratic life.