Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has called for urgent federal intervention following the alleged unlawful occupation of local government secretariats and the withholding of over ₦130 billion in statutory allocations meant for grassroots governance.
In a statewide broadcast on Monday, Governor Adeleke described the continued occupation of council offices by court-sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen and councillors as a serious breach of democratic order and the rule of law. He emphasized that the judiciary had nullified their elections, with the Federal High Court, Osogbo, ruling in November 2022 and subsequent affirmations by the Court of Appeal in February and June 2025 confirming their removal.
“The court removed them, not my administration,” Adeleke stated, stressing that fresh local government elections were conducted in accordance with court directives, culminating in the swearing-in of duly elected chairmen and councillors on February 23, 2025.
The governor accused the former Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, of allegedly supporting the unlawful occupation with police backing, describing it as an attack on democracy and local governance. Adeleke also alleged harassment of council workers by armed police officers and political thugs when they attempted to resume duties.
Central to his address was the financial strain caused by the withholding of statutory allocations. According to Adeleke, since February 2025, over ₦130 billion intended for local governments has not been released, leaving the state government to shoulder the responsibility of paying salaries for primary school teachers, health workers across 332 primary healthcare centers, council staff, traditional councils, and retirees. He described the situation as “unsustainable,” despite the administration’s efforts to meet obligations for almost 12 months.
The governor further implicated the United Bank for Africa (UBA) in allegedly allowing unauthorised individuals to operate local government accounts, noting that senior bank officials involved are facing criminal prosecution. He questioned whether such actions would be tolerated in international financial hubs like New York or London.
Appealing directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Adeleke urged the federal government to ensure the immediate release of the funds and safeguard democratic institutions in Osun State. “There is no provision in our Constitution for tenure elongation,” he said, framing the ongoing crisis as a clash between constitutional order and impunity.
Governor Adeleke concluded by calling on Nigerians, democracy advocates, and residents to remain peaceful and law-abiding while demanding an immediate end to the occupation of local government secretariats and the release of council funds.