Osogbo, Osun State – October 20, 2025 – In a blistering rebuttal that has ignited fresh political fireworks in Nigeria's southwestern state of Osun, Governor Ademola Adeleke has categorically dismissed sensational claims by the All Progressives Congress (APC) accusing him of bribing leaders of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) to perpetuate an ongoing strike. The governor's sharp response, issued on Sunday, underscores a deepening rift between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition APC, as both sides trade barbs over local government control, judicial integrity, and the welfare of Osun's grassroots communities.
The controversy erupted amid an eight-month-long NULGE strike that has paralyzed local government operations across Osun's 30 local government areas (LGAs) and 39 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). This industrial action, one of the longest in recent Nigerian history, stems from disputes over local government autonomy, funding allocations, and the legitimacy of elected officials. At its core, the strike represents a broader national tug-of-war between state governors and local unions, exacerbated by Nigeria's complex federal structure where states often withhold funds from councils, citing fiscal responsibilities.
Governor Adeleke, speaking through his media aide, Olawale Rasheed, branded the APC's allegations as "baseless fabrications" and a "direct assault on the pillars of democracy and the judiciary." In a detailed statement released from the Government House in Osogbo, the governor portrayed the claims as the latest salvo in a calculated campaign by the APC to destabilize his administration and erode public trust in Osun's institutions. "This level of impunity displayed by the state APC constitutes a grave threat to our democratic system," Adeleke declared, his words resonating like a thunderclap in the state's polarized political arena.
Delving deeper into the APC's alleged transgressions, Adeleke accused the opposition of a pattern of lawlessness that began with the outright falsification of a Court of Appeal judgment. According to the governor, the APC brazenly misrepresented the ruling to falsely claim the reinstatement of its court-sacked local government chairmen. This, he argued, was not mere political theater but a deliberate subversion of justice. "The judiciary has affirmed the legality of PDP chairmen and councillors across all local governments," Adeleke emphasized, referencing a landmark decision that upheld the PDP's dominance in Osun's councils following the 2022 elections.
Yet, the APC's defiance did not stop at courtroom theatrics. Adeleke painted a vivid picture of "political bandits operating in a lawless society," recounting how APC loyalists invaded and occupied council secretariats without any legal backing. These incursions, he said, were not spontaneous outbursts but orchestrated attempts to seize control of public resources. "With a system that seems to tolerate illegality, they even attempted to siphon public funds through another unlawful route until they were lawfully restrained by the courts," the governor stated, highlighting emergency judicial interventions that halted the APC's advances.
Despite these repeated rebukes from the bench, Adeleke lamented that the APC's "embittered and defiant" stance has escalated to "an alarming level." He pointed out that the opposition continues to contest matters already sub judice before the Supreme Court, Nigeria's apex judicial body. "The judiciary has stepped in to set the records straight, yet the Osun APC remains so defiant that it argues over a case pending at the highest court in the land," Adeleke added, urging citizens to view these antics as desperate maneuvers from a party on the ropes.
Turning to the bribery allegations specifically, Adeleke urged Osun residents to "dismiss this new bag of lies" with the contempt it deserves. He stressed that NULGE, as an independent labor union with deep roots in Nigeria's workers' movement, operates autonomously and requires no financial inducements to safeguard its members' rights. "The collective effort to prevent the looting of local government treasuries involves all responsible stakeholders who need no form of bribery to act in the public interest," the governor asserted. In his view, the strike is a principled stand against fiscal plunder, uniting unions, civil society, and ethical politicians in defense of Osun's 69 councils and LCDAs.
Adeleke concluded on an optimistic note, declaring that "the opposition has reached the end of its road." He expressed confidence that "the people have resisted illegality, and the judiciary will soon deliver its final verdict," signaling an impending triumph for democratic governance in the state.
The APC's Side: A Scathing Indictment of Adeleke's Administration
The APC's accusations, laid out in a fiery statement signed by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, paint a starkly contrasting narrative of corruption and mismanagement under Adeleke's watch. Released just days before the governor's rebuttal, the APC document accuses the PDP-led government of stooping to unprecedented lows by bankrolling an "illegal work stoppage against itself." Citing a viral video purportedly recorded by a senior NULGE official, Olabisi detailed alleged bribe amounts that have stunned political observers: ₦750,000 each to the 69 Heads of Local Government Administration, ₦500,000 to Directors of Administration and Finance, and ₦250,000 to other directors and NULGE chairmen.
"This is shocking – a government financing its own paralysis," Olabisi thundered, linking the payments directly to state coffers. The APC claims these disbursements have artificially prolonged the strike, which began in February 2025, inflicting "significant hardship" on traditional rulers, rural dwellers, and everyday Osun indigenes who rely on council services for everything from waste management to primary healthcare.
Olabisi did not mince words in blaming Adeleke personally for the crisis. He accused the governor of deliberately delaying local government fund disbursements, then hypocritically shifting blame to the APC and federal agencies like the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC). "Our consolation as a party is that this administration is temporary – it will end by November 27, 2026, and the APC will return to restore the state’s lost glory," the APC spokesman declared, evoking memories of the party's previous tenure under former Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
The APC reserved its harshest criticism for NULGE's leadership, branding them "betrayers" who have abandoned rank-and-file workers for personal gain. "This alleged bribery is a profound betrayal of the workforce," Olabisi argued, noting that lower-ranking council employees are suffering acutely: many retirees have missed pension payouts, families lack access to essential services, and career milestones remain frozen. In rural Osun, where over 60% of the population resides, the strike has amplified poverty, with reports of uncollected refuse piles breeding disease and unpaved roads deteriorating further.
Broader Implications for Osun and Nigeria
This escalating feud transcends Osun's borders, mirroring national debates on local government autonomy enshrined in Nigeria's 1999 Constitution. The strike has cost Osun an estimated ₦12 billion in lost productivity, according to economic analysts, while highlighting tensions between the PDP-controlled state and the APC-dominated federal government. Legal experts predict the Supreme Court's impending ruling could set precedents for all 36 states, potentially unlocking ₦5 trillion in annual local funds nationwide.
Governor Adeleke's administration, which rode to power in 2022 on promises of youth empowerment and infrastructure revival, now faces its sternest test. Supporters hail his defiance as a bulwark against "APC fascism," while critics decry the strike's human cost. As Osun's 5.3 million residents await judicial closure, one thing is clear: the battle for local power is far from over, with democracy itself hanging in the balance.
In the words of Adeleke, "The rule of law will prevail." Yet, as Olabisi retorts, "Accountability must come first." With polls showing voter fatigue at 72%, the 2026 elections loom large, promising a reckoning for Osun's political gladiators.
