Osun APC and PDP React to Supreme Court Ruling

The Supreme Court’s recent ruling on withheld local‑government allocations in Osun State has provoked sharply contrasting reactions from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Both parties’ governorship candidate, Adedamola Adebayo, claimed victory and issued warnings to supporters and opponents alike.

APC Osun chairman Tajudeen Lawal praised the judgment, calling it a reinforcement of the July 2024 decision that affirmed financial autonomy for the state’s local‑government councils. He condemned the Osun State House of Assembly for swiftly passing the Local Government Accounts Administration Bill, 2025, after the ruling, labeling the legislation “unconstitutional” and an attempt to undermine the court’s decision.

In contrast, Adebayo welcomed the ruling but interpreted its implications differently. He said the verdict cleared the way for PDP‑elected chairmen to assume office and urged party members to celebrate peacefully. Adebayo warned against lawlessness and pledged to use legal avenues to ensure that PDP‑elected council leadership takes control of the local government areas without disruption.

The Supreme Court struck out a suit filed by the Osun State Government that sought to compel the Federal Government to release the withheld allocations. A seven‑member panel voted six to one that the suit lacked legal competence. Both the APC and PDP claimed victory: the APC asserted that the rule of law had prevailed, while the PDP viewed the verdict as an affirmation of its position. These reactions underscore the ongoing tension between the two parties in Osun State.

The ruling carries significant implications for local‑government financing and the balance of power between the APC and PDP as the 2026 Osun election approaches. The House of Assembly’s passage of the Local Government Accounts Administration Bill, 2025, has further heightened concerns about legislative involvement in the dispute. The APC questions the speed of the bill’s enactment, alleging it seeks to undermine the court’s decision, whereas the PDP sees the legislation as an attempt to weaken the authority of local‑government chairmen and councillors reinstated under the APC platform. How the Supreme Court’s decision will ultimately affect the power dynamics in Osun State remains to be seen.