The Osun State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have clashed over allegations of diversion of local government funds and conflicting interpretations of court judgments on council allocations.
Speaking in Osogbo on Sunday, NULGE accused top federal government officials of abuse of power and disregard for the rule of law in handling Osun’s local government allocations.
The union alleged that the Minister of Finance, the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Attorney-General of the Federation wrongfully paid statutory allocations of Osun’s 30 local government councils from March to September 2025 into accounts operated by APC chairmen and councillors who had been removed by the courts.
Funds Paid Into Disputed Accounts
According to NULGE, the funds were lodged into United Bank for Africa (UBA) accounts despite valid court orders and the existence of official council accounts managed by career officers.
“Paying local government allocations into privately opened and illegal bank accounts of politicians is unbelievable, bizarre, and unprecedented in Nigeria’s public administration,” the union said.
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NULGE recalled that the Federal High Court, on May 15, 2025, ordered all parties to maintain the status quo, a directive acknowledged by the Central Bank of Nigeria. The matter, it noted, is still before the Federal High Court and was scheduled for hearing on Monday, September 29, 2025.
Warning Against Destabilisation
The union stressed that both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal had effectively removed APC chairmen and councillors, clearing the way for the swearing-in of newly elected council executives.
“The Attorney-General cannot assume the role of the Supreme Court by setting aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal. He is not above the law,” the statement read.
NULGE further warned that undermining judicial authority could destabilise the state, alleging that some political actors were plotting to create disorder to justify a possible state of emergency.
Despite the tension, it appealed to residents to remain calm and support Governor Ademola Adeleke’s peace and development agenda.
APC Denies Allegations, Hits Back at NULGE
In a swift response, the Osun APC dismissed NULGE’s claims as “a pack of lies and deliberate misrepresentation” aimed at serving political interests.
In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the APC accused NULGE, led by Comrade Kehinde Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, of acting as a mouthpiece for the PDP.
“It is not the duty of NULGE to interpret any court judgment. The Court of Appeal judgment of February 10, 2025, which reinstated the APC local government chairmen and councillors, remains valid as there is no record of an appeal,” the APC said.
The party also denied that allocations were diverted into personal accounts of its members, insisting that “the federal allocations were paid directly into the local government councils’ accounts.”
The APC urged NULGE to stop misleading its members and desist from acting as the PDP’s political arm, while calling on security agencies to protect peace in the state.
PDP Challenges APC to Reveal Account Details
Reacting, the Osun PDP said it had noted the APC’s admission that the funds had been released.
In a statement by its chairman, Sunday Bisi, the ruling party challenged the APC to disclose the exact accounts into which the allocations were paid and to reveal the signatories.
The PDP said statutory officers across the 30 local governments, including the state Accountant-General, Auditor-General for Local Governments, and the Ministry of Local Government Affairs, were unaware of any payments.
According to the party, this suggested diversion of funds and amounted to “an admission of crime against the people of Osun State.”
Adeleke Government Reaffirms Transparency
The PDP added that insulting NULGE would not erase the demand for accountability. It urged the APC to provide full details of the transactions or risk being accused of staging what it described as “the greatest heist in Nigeria’s history.”
Bisi reaffirmed that under Governor Ademola Adeleke, transparency and accountability would remain guiding principles in managing public resources. He stressed that no amount of blackmail would derail the administration.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
