Osun APC and PDP Clash Over Federal Government’s Stand on Local Government Crisis

Osun APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a fresh political battle has erupted in over the Federal Government’s stance on the ongoing local government administration crisis. The dispute has paralyzed governance at the 30 local government areas and the area office, leaving workers stranded for nearly six weeks.

The crisis began on February 17, 2025, when the Osun chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) instructed workers to stay away from their offices, citing the possibility of a political crisis. Since then, the local government administration has remained in a state of uncertainty, with neither the elected APC officials nor the PDP-led state government able to fully assert control over the councils.

Osun APC and PDP Clash Over Federal Government’s Stand on Local Government Crisis

Legal Battles and Power Struggles Over LG Administration

The root of the crisis lies in the 2022 local government elections, which were conducted on October 15, 2022, during the tenure of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola (APC). However, on November 25, 2022, the Federal High Court in Osogbo nullified the elections, leading to the removal of all APC-elected officials.

In February 2025, the Court of Appeal in Akure ruled in favor of the sacked APC officials, effectively reinstating them. The ruling dealt a significant blow to Governor Ademola Adeleke’s PDP-led government, which had planned to conduct fresh local government elections on February 22, 2025.

Despite the court ruling, civil servants in the local governments have refused to resume work, claiming they fear for their safety amid the political tensions. The standoff has fueled accusations and counter-accusations between the APC and PDP, with both parties seeking to control the narrative.

APC Accuses Adeleke of Deception, Praises Federal Government’s Position

The APC, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Mr. Kola Olabisi, expressed satisfaction with the Federal Government’s stance on the matter. The party claimed that Governor Adeleke’s delegation to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), was met with resistance, as the AGF reportedly upheld the Court of Appeal’s ruling in favor of the APC-elected chairmen and councillors.

The APC’s statement read:

“Governor Adeleke sent a powerful delegation, led by one of his senior political appointees, to meet with the AGF. The delegation was meant to brief him on the results of the purported local government elections held on February 22, 2025, despite legal advice not to proceed with the elections, as there were no vacancies due to the Court of Appeal judgment of February 10, 2025.”

The party further alleged that the Adeleke administration was misleading PDP supporters, urging the governor to admit that local government administration is now under the APC’s legal control.

“Reports suggest that the AGF delivered a blunt and honest interpretation of the law to the Adeleke delegation regarding the ongoing crisis in local government administration,” the APC added.

The APC insisted that the PDP was only delaying the inevitable, as court rulings had validated their control over the local government areas.

PDP Rejects APC’s Claims, Accuses Party of Propaganda

The PDP, in a counter-statement signed by its state chairman, Sunday Bisi, dismissed the APC’s claims as propaganda and misinformation. The party accused the APC of forcefully taking over local government councils, despite the legal controversy surrounding their reinstatement.

The PDP’s statement read:

“At the start of this issue, we rightly alerted the public about the illegality of the Osun APC’s actions, as no court reinstated the sacked officials. We have now been vindicated, as the Osun APC is back at the Court of Appeal, attempting to revive an appeal that affirmed the invalidation of the October 15, 2022 local government election, which the APC claims to have won.”

The PDP also questioned why the APC was returning to the Court of Appeal if it was confident in its victory.

“Instead of throwing around conjectures, Osun APC should be answering the question: what exactly is it doing at the Court of Appeal if the judgment invalidating its officials is not still in effect?”

Furthermore, the PDP accused the APC of falsely using the Attorney General’s name to justify its takeover of the councils, adding that all legal documents nullifying the October 15, 2022 elections are publicly available.

“We are concerned that Osun APC is misusing the name of the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, to justify its assault on the judiciary by disregarding a valid, subsisting judgment.”

The PDP maintained that Governor Adeleke acted within the law by conducting new elections, insisting that the APC’s tenure ended with the High Court’s ruling in 2022.

Political Tensions Rise as Local Government Workers Remain Absent

Despite the APC’s insistence that its officials have resumed office, the local government secretariats remain largely empty, as workers continue to stay away from work due to safety concerns.

Some workers, speaking anonymously, noted that until a clear directive comes from the state government, they would not risk reporting to work in a politically charged environment.

A senior civil servant at one of the local governments told reporters:

“We have two different parties claiming control over the same councils. Nobody wants to get caught in the middle of a political crisis.”

Conclusion: A Prolonged Legal and Political Battle Ahead

The Osun local government crisis appears far from over, as both the APC and PDP remain locked in a bitter legal and political struggle. While the APC argues that the Court of Appeal has reinstated its officials, the PDP maintains that the legal process is ongoing and that its February 2025 elections were legitimate.

With workers refusing to return, governance at the local level remains at a standstill, affecting service delivery and public administration. The role of the Federal Government—particularly the Attorney General of the Federation—will be crucial in determining how the crisis unfolds in the coming weeks.

For now, Osun State residents await clarity on whether the elected APC officials will be allowed to govern, or if Governor Adeleke’s PDP administration will successfully overturn the decision in court.