APC alleges state government using courts to stifle local councils in Osun

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday accused Governor Ademola Adeleke’s PDP/Accord-led government of deliberately using court processes to frustrate elected local government councils and cripple grassroots governance.

The APC alleged that despite Supreme and Court of Appeal verdicts backing the reinstated executives, the Osun State Government is planning to procure orders from the Federal High Court and Magistrate Court to stall governance at the grassroots level.

Speaking with journalists in Osogbo, the Chairman of the APC in the state, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, said the government refused to comply with the February 10, 2025 Court of Appeal judgment that reinstated APC chairmen and councillors across all 30 local governments.

Lawal said, “The PDP/Accord Party-led Osun State Government has instituted over 10 frivolous lawsuits across different courts and states from February to December 2025, demonstrating its refusal to obey court judgments and the rule of law. This conduct is disdainful of democratic principles and challenges the Supreme Court judgment of 5 December 2025.”

Through the party’s Director of Media, Chief Kola Olabisi, Lawal urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to treat petitions filed against judges over their conduct in granting such orders. He added that the judgments in Appeal No: CA/AK/15/2025 and Supreme Court Suit No. SC/CV/773/2025 have settled any claims by the state government over local council allocations and the offices of APC chairmen and councillors.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Osun, Abiodun Idowu, blamed the state government for defying apex court verdicts on legitimate council executives. Idowu, who is the Ifedayo Council chairman, said, “Procurement of court orders everywhere, every time, is an impediment to development. We cannot function under this process as they have approached several High Courts within and outside Osun State.”

He added, “We are hearing they are still going to Magistrate Courts, despite multiple rulings up to the Supreme Court. This is clearly an attempt to stop development in Osun State.”