 and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State has deepened){kind=link}
The political standoff between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State has deepened, as both parties continue to blame each other for the ongoing closure of local government secretariats across the state—a disruption now in its third consecutive month.
The deadlock began on February 17, 2025, when local government workers withdrew from their duties following an order by Dr. Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Osun.
The directive came in the wake of mounting tension between the two major political parties over control of the councils.
At least six people reportedly lost their lives during violent clashes, including Remi Abbas, the APC chairman of Irewole Local Government.
While APC-supported council leaders have since taken over the secretariats, the ongoing absence of staff has rendered the councils inoperable.
Despite efforts by the APC to encourage a return to work, employees have remained off duty.
NULGE has also dragged the APC-backed chairmen to court, alleging illegal takeover of council facilities.
The case is currently before the Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesa.
Reacting to the situation, the APC’s Director of Media and Information, Mr. Kola Olabisi, accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of fueling the crisis through inaction.
He alleged that the governor had allowed the shutdown to persist in a bid to undermine the APC-led councils, which had earlier been reinstated by a Court of Appeal judgment.
“For over 90 days, nothing has happened at the local government level, and the governor hasn’t lifted a finger to fix the issue,” Olabisi said.
He further alleged that the PDP government was using a compliant NULGE leadership to wage political war against the APC chairmen.
Olabisi also lamented the negative impact of the shutdown on ordinary citizens, stating that residents now travel to neighboring states for services usually provided by their local governments.
He claimed that the state had suffered revenue losses as a result of the inactivity and urged the federal government to step in.
However, the PDP countered the claims through its spokesperson, Oladele Bamiji, who rejected the APC’s narrative and defended Governor Adeleke’s handling of the crisis.
According to Bamiji, the APC deliberately provoked unrest at the local level in an attempt to plunge the state into disorder and pave the way for a state of emergency.
He described Adeleke’s response as a calculated effort to de-escalate the situation and avoid further violence.
“The suspension of council activities was a temporary and precautionary measure to protect lives and ensure public safety. Governor Adeleke acted responsibly by choosing the legal route instead of responding with force,” Bamiji said.
He dismissed APC’s allegations as politically motivated, urging President Bola Tinubu to ignore what he termed a “desperate attempt” by a defeated opposition party to reclaim power through federal intervention.
“They’re still smarting from their defeat in the 2022 governorship election and are now seeking shortcuts to regain relevance. Their calls for federal help are nothing more than an attempt to bypass the will of the people,” he added.