Adeleke Appeals to Tinubu as Osun Local Government Crisis Deepens

Osun State has again become the centre of political tension as Governor Ademola Adeleke appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the lingering local government crisis. The dispute over who controls the state’s councils has persisted despite court rulings and elections. Adeleke’s move escalates the issue to the presidency.

The crisis dates to February 10, 2025, when the Court of Appeal reinstated All Progressives Congress chairmen and councillors elected in 2022. They were earlier removed following a Federal High Court judgment and an executive order signed by Adeleke. Fresh local government elections were later held on February 22.

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Those elections produced Peoples Democratic Party officials, while reinstated APC executives continued occupying council secretariats. This created parallel claims to authority across the state. In a statewide broadcast, Adeleke declared the APC officials’ presence illegal, insisting their elections were nullified in November 2022.

The governor further alleged that the APC officials were being supported by the Nigeria Police, acting on directives linked to former governor Gboyega Oyetola. He argued their tenure had expired and cited ongoing proceedings before the Supreme Court.

Adeleke also raised financial concerns, claiming statutory local government allocations of about ₦130 billion have been withheld since February 2025. He warned of attempts to divert funds through unauthorised accounts, saying civil servants and communities were suffering daily hardship.

However, ALGON chairman Abiodun Idowu rejected the claims, accusing Adeleke of misleading the public. He maintained APC executives remain in office based on the February 10 Court of Appeal judgment.