Governor of Osun Requests Release of N130 Billion in Local Government Funds

The ongoing local government crisis in Osun State escalated on Monday as Governor Ademola Adeleke called for the urgent release of more than N130 billion in statutory allocations that have reportedly been withheld from the local councils.

This appeal emerges nearly a year after the governor appointed new chairpersons and councillors who came into office following the local government elections held on February 23, 2025, where candidates from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were declared victorious.

Since their inauguration, governance at the local level has faced significant disruptions due to extended legal and political disputes between PDP members and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The controversy arises from assertions made by APC chairpersons elected in October 2022 under the administration of former governor Adegboyega Oyetola, who argue that they are still legitimate officeholders despite judicial rulings invalidating their elections.

Although a Federal High Court in Osogbo annulled the elections in November 2022, the Court of Appeal later reversed this ruling. Nevertheless, Governor Adeleke asserts that subsequent appellate decisions made in February and June 2025 affirmed the cancellations of the APC officials' mandates.

During a statewide address, Adeleke claimed that since the PDP chairpersons were inaugurated, statutory financial allocations to local governments have not been deposited into the valid council accounts.

He expressed concern that the ongoing hold on council funds and the occupation of the council secretariats by unmandated individuals are severely undermining grassroots governance and causing suffering for both workers and local residents.

Adeleke characterized the current occupants of the council secretariats as illegitimate figures acting without proper authority and alleged that former governor Oyetola is facilitating their continued presence using police support.

In retaliation, the Osun APC accused Governor Adeleke of disseminating misinformation and insisted that its own chairpersons and councillors legitimately occupy the council secretariats.