The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has condemned the leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing its actions as deceptive and irresponsible in relation to claims about local government allocations.
In a statement signed by the APC Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the party criticised the PDP for feeding the diplomatic community and international human rights groups with false narratives. The APC warned the PDP against attempts to sway opinion abroad in order to influence the Court of Appeal’s judgment on the matter.
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“It is unfortunate that the Osun State PDP would stoop so low as to misrepresent facts before the diplomatic community and global rights organisations, alleging that local government funds are being withheld by Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Gboyega Oyetola. There is no truth to that claim,” the statement read.
The APC maintained that the Court of Appeal, in its ruling of 10 February 2025, had reinstated APC-elected local government chairmen and councillors, affirming their right to administer local councils and access statutory allocations. It called on international observers to disregard what it described as the “ranting” of the PDP.
“We wish to state clearly that no individual or institution is obstructing access to local government allocations. The legitimate office holders are in the process of retrieving the funds, in accordance with the law,” the statement continued.
The party also questioned why the PDP, having lost at the appellate court, failed to appeal the decision or proceed with its pending case at the Supreme Court. It accused the PDP of attempting to bypass legal processes by lobbying international organisations that have no jurisdiction in Nigerian municipal law.
“It is baffling that the PDP, which is not even a party to the case in question, continues to act as a meddlesome interloper. The Supreme Court had already affirmed the full autonomy of local government administrations over a year ago,” Olabisi noted.
He further alleged that the state government, under PDP leadership, is indebted to the tune of N84 billion, representing allocations it had allegedly withheld from local government councils in violation of the Supreme Court’s order.
“The PDP is engaging in a smear campaign to mask its own failings and to keep its fragmented base intact. Their claims that two federal ministers are behind their troubles are false. No allocation has been withheld, and blaming external figures is a distraction,” the statement said.
The APC called on the PDP to stop dragging international organisations into domestic legal matters, pointing out that such agencies operate under international law and do not intervene in municipal judicial decisions.
“The diplomatic community and rights organisations are bound by legal norms and cannot condone disobedience to valid court rulings. The leadership of Governor Adeleke and the PDP selectively obey court orders, which undermines the rule of law,” the statement alleged.
The APC also outlined the proper legal channels for addressing violations of court orders under Nigerian law, referencing the procedure detailed in Order 13 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act (Judgment Enforcement Rules) 2004. These include filing Form 48 (Notice of Consequence of Disobedience to Court Order), Form 49 (Notice to Show Cause), and a motion for committal for contempt.
“If the PDP genuinely believes court orders were flouted by Fagbemi or Oyetola, they know the proper legal steps to take. Writing petitions to NGOs is an exercise in futility and serves no legal purpose,” Olabisi stated.
He concluded by asserting that the PDP’s resort to what he termed “irrelevant theatrics” confirms it lacks both the evidence and will to pursue the matter lawfully.
Recall that earlier, the Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) petitioned Western embassies and international human rights organisations, accusing the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, of undermining the rule of law in the state’s ongoing local government crisis.
The party alleged that both officials played central roles in orchestrating the impasse by deliberately ignoring a Court of Appeal judgment that affirmed the legitimacy of PDP-elected local government chairmen and councillors. It further claimed that the local government allocations had been unlawfully withheld for five consecutive months.
In a statement issued by the Osun PDP Chairman, Hon Sunday Bisi, the party alleged that Oyetola exploited his familial ties with President Bola Tinubu to block the release of funds meant for local councils in the state, describing the action as unconstitutional and lacking any valid legal basis.
“This development is deeply troubling and poses a direct threat to democratic governance,” the statement read. “We are calling on Western embassies and the global rights community to impose sanctions on these federal officials, whose conduct is endangering democratic processes in Osun State.”
The party appealed for visa restrictions and other punitive measures, arguing that such actions could compel both Oyetola and the Attorney General to respect constitutional procedures.
“This is a democracy, and no official should be permitted to violate the constitution or sidestep due process with impunity, as is currently happening in Osun under the supervision of Mr Oyetola and the AGF,” Bisi stated.
The PDP also requested that foreign missions and rights organisations carry out thorough investigations, compile reports, and publicly track developments surrounding what it described as a systematic threat to democratic structures in the state. It warned of broader implications for national elections scheduled for 2026 and 2027.
“We request that the activities of all actors undermining democracy in Osun be scrutinised, with particular attention to the actions of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, who is a cousin to the President,” the statement added.
The party further called on the international community to treat the 2026 Osun governorship election as a crucial barometer for the 2027 general elections. It urged international actors to monitor and report on risks and opportunities relating to the political climate in the state as the electoral calendar advances.
