ADC condemns Osun LG fund freeze, alleges political intimidation by FG
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the freezing of statutory allocations to local governments in Osun State, describing the action as “political terrorism” and accusing the Federal Government of using state institutions to undermine the opposition ahead of the state’s governorship election.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party alleged that the withholding of local government funds was part of a broader campaign by the administration of President Bola Tinubu to weaken the Osun State government for political advantage.
The ADC claimed the decision would adversely affect the payment of workers’ salaries, primary healthcare services, education, rural infrastructure and other essential public services.
According to the party, the alleged freezing of the funds demonstrates a “win-at-all-cost” approach to politics that threatens Nigeria’s democracy.
“It is political terrorism by the Bola Tinubu-led APC government carried out with the instruments of the Nigerian state in order to achieve the singular objective of undermining the state government ahead of the coming governorship election in the state,” the statement read.
The party also alleged that the withholding of allocations was part of a wider pattern of intimidation, including the continued occupation of local government councils by what it described as unelected APC loyalists, the arrest of opposition politicians and the alleged use of armed political thugs with the backing of security agencies.
The ADC further accused federal institutions of failing to uphold constitutional order in Osun State, alleging that security agencies had either ignored or enabled acts of political intimidation.
“Political opponents are not enemy combatants. Opposition-controlled states are not occupied territories. Public institutions do not belong to whichever party temporarily controls the federal government,” the party stated.
