APC Rebukes PDP on Osun Council Funds Citing Court Rulings

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has rejected calls by certain Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers for the release of federal allocations to local government councils they recognise, stating that such a move would violate existing court orders.

The dispute emerged after a press conference in Osogbo on Saturday, addressed by Senator Lere Oyewumi and other PDP-aligned federal and state legislators. They urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure federal funds are paid directly to council chairmen and councillors supported by their faction. In response, the Osun APC, through its Director of Media and Information Kola Olabisi, accused the lawmakers of misrepresenting the legal status of local government administration in the state.

The APC asserted that the lawful local government chairmen and councillors—all elected on its platform—were reinstated following specific judicial pronouncements. It referenced a Court of Appeal judgement dated 10 February 2025, which it said facilitated the resumption of duties by the recognised officials. The party further cited a Supreme Court decision from December 2025, claiming it unequivocally clarified the legitimate leadership of the councils. “Any attempt to describe them as illegal occupants is a distortion of the facts,” the APC statement declared.

Addressing claims that APC council officials were occupying secretariats with police backing, the party said security agencies were merely upholding their constitutional duty to enforce court rulings and maintain public order. “Law enforcement agencies have a duty to ensure peace and compliance with lawful court decisions,” it added.

The APC also dismissed a recent vote of confidence passed by the PDP lawmakers for Governor Ademola Adeleke and the state PDP leadership as irrelevant to the core legal issues. “Political endorsements do not override court rulings,” the statement noted, arguing that directing funds to any group other than those affirmed by the judiciary would undermine the rule of law. The party expressed confidence that President Tinubu would respect constitutional provisions and judicial outcomes.

On internal political dynamics, the APC alleged inconsistencies in the positions of some lawmakers without specifying details, cautioning against conflating political disagreements with legal compliance. The statement referred to the ongoing trial of suspects in the killing of Remi Abass, a reinstated chairman in Irewole Local Government Area, urging that justice be allowed to run its course.

Concluding, the APC called on Governor Adeleke to collaborate with the APC-controlled councils for the benefit of residents. “Collaboration within the framework of the law remains essential for effective governance,” it stated. The standoff highlights the persistent tension between political recognition and judicial authority in Osun’s local government system, with federal allocations—a critical funding stream—at the centre of the conflict. The situation underscores the challenges of aligning political interests with established court rulings in Nigeria’s federal structure.