A political dispute over federal allocations to local governments in Osun State has intensified, with the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) accusing the state administration of deliberately spreading misinformation, and the state government firing back with counter-claims about legal interpretations and fund management.
The clash stems from a radio programme where the state Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, discussed the status of reinstated local council executives and federal funds. In a statement, the opposition APC described the broadcast as a “calculated attempt to confuse residents” and a platform for political messaging that undermined its reinstated chairmen and councillors. The party also accused Alimi of making “unhelpful” attacks on federal officials, including the Attorney-General of the Federation and a former governor, over related court decisions.
The APC emphasized that existing court judgments, including rulings from the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, remain binding and must be respected. “No opinion, however influential, can override the clear pronouncements of a competent court,” the statement read, urging the state government to cease inflammatory rhetoric and adhere to judicial directives.
Commissioner Alimi, however, rejected the APC’s narrative. Speaking separately, he asserted that the APC was misinterpreting the law and that the Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA) legal opinion superseded that of the Attorney-General. He portrayed the AGF as an “interested party” due to his past role as counsel to the former APC governor. Alimi shifted focus to the APC’s own conduct, challenging it to deny allegations of paying billions of naira in public funds to its legal counsels, while state pensioners suffer. He insisted the NBA’s position confirmed the APC had not secured a valid legal victory on local government autonomy.
The confrontation highlights the prolonged friction over local government administration and federal fund disbursement in Osun State. Both parties are invoking legal authorities and public accountability to validate their positions, deepening political tensions. The stalemate raises questions about the implementation of local government autonomy and the management of public resources, with no immediate resolution in sight as each side remains entrenched in its legal and political arguments.
