Osun LG Crisis: Gov Adeleke Blames Oyetola, Appeals to Tinubu to End Local Govt Standoff

Osun LG Crisis: Gov Adeleke Blames Oyetola, Appeals to Tinubu to End Local Govt Standoff

Osogbo, Nigeria — January 29, 2026: Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has intensified his criticism of Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, accusing him of fuelling the ongoing Osun local government (LG) crisis and calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and “call Oyetola to order.” Adeleke says the impasse — which has seen council allocations withheld and rival claims over control of local councils — is undermining grassroots governance and public service delivery.

Adeleke has reiterated that the tenure of APC local government chairmen and councillors elected under the previous administration effectively expired in October 2025 and that attempts to extend their stay in council secretariats lack legal backing. He says courts have affirmed that those officials have no mandate, and yet they continue to occupy council offices in defiance of constitutional norms.

The governor has accused Oyetola of backing these “tenure‑less” officials and of contributing to a situation where statutory local government funds are being withheld, resulting in unpaid salaries for local workers, teachers, health staff and retirees. He described the crisis as a test of federalism, constitutional order and the rule of law in Nigeria and appealed directly to President Tinubu to step in and restrain federal interference.

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Adeleke’s comments come amid a broader political standoff between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun and the All Progressives Congress (APC), which insists that recent Court of Appeal decisions reinstated elected APC chairmen and councillors. APC leaders and Minister Oyetola’s aides have pushed back, accusing Adeleke of misleading the public and using mischaracterisations to cover up what they describe as administrative failings and disregard for judicial authority.

Critics of Adeleke’s position, including representatives of the APC and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Osun, have warned against what they call deliberate misinformation over the LG funding crisis, arguing that legal disputes filed by the state government are the main reason for delayed disbursements. They contend that local governments and secretariats are functioning, claiming services and statutory responsibilities are being carried out.

Amid rising tensions, some civil society groups have called on the Supreme Court to expedite final rulings on the matter, saying clarity on council tenure and autonomy would help unblock development funds and stabilise local governance. More than ₦100 billion in federal allocations intended for Osun’s councils remain largely underutilised due to the dispute, disrupting essential services in health, education, waste management and rural infrastructure.

The crisis, now months old, highlights ongoing debates over local government autonomy, judicial interpretation of tenure laws, and the balance of power between state and federal authorities. With workers reportedly suffering prolonged salary delays and community services hindered, calls for a decisive resolution — potentially involving federal leadership — continue to grow.

Osun LG Crisis: Gov Adeleke Blames Oyetola, Appeals to Tinubu to End Local Govt Standoff