Osun PDP, APC battle Over Seizure of Local Government Funds

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State has accused the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, of abusing his office and undermining the separation of powers through the seizure of local government allocations to the state.

In a statement on Monday by Olaleke Bamiji, Osun PDP Media Director, the party condemned what it described as politically motivated interference obstructing local government councils. The PDP called on President Bola Tinubu to restrain Fagbemi, reminding him that no one is above the law.

The statement emphasized that Fagbemi, who previously served as lead counsel to former Governor Gboyega Oyetola—an important figure in Osun APC—should have recused himself from matters affecting the state’s political landscape. The PDP described the seizure of funds without any court order as illegal and a violation of the right to a fair hearing.

“The recent directive to halt the disbursement of funds to democratically elected local governments is an affront to constitutionalism and the principles of justice,” the PDP said, urging Fagbemi to act impartially beyond partisan interests.

Reacting swiftly, the Osun State All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the PDP’s claims as desperate attempts to cause hardship for grassroots workers. In a statement by Kola Olabisi, APC’s Director of Media and Information, the party accused the PDP government led by Ademola Adeleke of trying to frustrate APC’s court victories.

The APC argued that the law is impartial and that Fagbemi’s past legal representation of Oyetola does not imply bias. The party also condemned the PDP’s use of “petty blackmail and press bullying” and highlighted ongoing court cases by the PDP to overturn previous judgments.

Praising the Federal Government’s decision to withhold local government funds, the APC called it a commendable stand for the rule of law against PDP’s lobbying efforts.

NIGERIA NEWS 247 reports that the Osun State Government has approached the Supreme Court over the seized allocations. The local government administration has been embroiled in a political struggle between Osun APC and PDP, with both parties claiming victory in separate elections held in 2022 and 2025.