The long-standing dispute over control of local governments in Osun State has intensified, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) trading claims of legitimacy, as the ‘reinstated’ APC-backed council executives signal readiness to access and allocate 2026 fiscal year funds.

The tussle dates back to February 10, 2025, when the Appeal Court reinstated APC council executives who had been sacked by the Federal High Court in 2022. A subsequent election saw PDP winning all local government seats, yet both parties continue to assert control over the councils.

The Federal Government directed APC chairmen to open accounts on behalf of the councils, into which allocations were deposited.

The Osun State government opposed this, insisting that only civil servants, not the APC ‘sacked’ executives or appointed treasurers, should be signatories to council accounts.

In a further twist, PDP council chairmen have presented their 2026 budgets to the Osun State House of Assembly, while APC executives submitted theirs to the Local Government Legislative Council.

Hon. Abiodun Idowu, APC factional Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Osun State chapter, maintained that there is no legal or administrative barrier preventing local government executives from accessing and utilising statutory allocations for 2026, independent of the governor’s approval.

Attempts to reach Governor Ademola Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, were unsuccessful at the time of filing.

A government source, however, described the situation as “peculiar,” noting, “The PDP chairmen are the legally recognised executives, and Governor Adeleke is ready to give them a free hand to operate, but APC illegality is affecting the implementation.” (The Nation)