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“Osun LG Crisis Escalates: Adeleke, PDP, State Govt, Oyetola Trade Blame”
The dispute over local government administration in Osun State escalated on Wednesday as Governor Ademola Adeleke, the state government, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rejected claims by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that its sacked council chairmen still had the right to remain in office.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In separate statements issued in Osogbo, the PDP and the state government argued that recent court developments and administrative actions showed that the APC’s position on the councils lacked legal backing.
Governor Adeleke reiterated his accusation that the former governor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, orchestrated the local government crisis in Osun. He stressed that the self-awarded tenure of APC chairmen expired in 2025 and cannot be legally extended under the law and Supreme Court precedents.
In a statement released by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke criticized the minister, accusing him of being the main architect of the paralysis and hardships faced by Osun residents. “Under what authority is Mr. Oyetola, in the guise of council chairmen, disbursing funds meant for local government workers’ salaries? Why are local health workers, teachers, and retirees not being paid? The minister must also stop dragging President Bola Tinubu’s name into this,” the governor said.
Meanwhile, the Osun State Government highlighted developments at the Federal High Court in Osogbo regarding a suit filed by the APC on council tenure. The Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, said the case, which was scheduled for hearing on Wednesday, was adjourned to March 4, 2026, after APC lawyers failed to appear.
“None of the APC’s legal representatives, including three Senior Advocates of Nigeria, attended when the matter was called. The October 15, 2022, election was nullified by the Federal High Court for violating the Electoral Act,” Alimi said. He added that subsequent judgments had not reinstated the APC chairmen, contrary to the party’s claims.
Alimi further accused the APC of misrepresenting the status of local government finances, questioning how funds were managed during the dispute.
Responding to the APC, the PDP said the opposition was attempting to justify an expired and unlawful occupation of council secretariats. In a statement signed by state chairman Sunday Bisi, the party stressed that APC chairmen never had a valid mandate, as their election had been nullified before Adeleke assumed office.
“Governor Adeleke did not sack any local government officials. The courts invalidated an election conducted in breach of the Electoral Act,” the PDP said. The party emphasized that the governor has a constitutional duty to protect public funds meant for grassroots development while legal matters are pending and called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure party members respect court rulings.
In contrast, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, Special Adviser to Minister Oyetola, accused Adeleke of spreading falsehoods to cover up his administrative failures. “The local government secretariats are open and functioning, and any disruption in financing is the responsibility of the Adeleke-led government, not the minister,” Akinola said. He cited a February 10, 2025 Court of Appeal ruling reinstating elected local government chairmen, noting that Adeleke’s government did not appeal the decision, which remains binding.
On the issue of tenure, Akinola explained that APC chairmen were elected for a three-year term but were removed illegally shortly after assuming office. He warned Adeleke against interfering in the affairs of an independent tier of government, reminding that the Supreme Court has granted full financial autonomy to local governments nationwide.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed that his push for an opposition coalition was initially rejected by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he reflected on events following the PDP’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election. According to him, he warned party leaders after the election that the PDP could struggle politically without forming alliances with other opposition forces. “To be honest, I was one of the major initiators of this coalition. After the PDP lost the last election, I told the party clearly that I did not see a future for the PDP without a coalition,” he said. Atiku said his advice was rejected at the time, despite his conviction that Nigeria’s political history had shown the importance of alliances. “They disagreed with me then. I have studied Nigeria’s political transition over the years and saw how previous alliances worked, so it was not difficult for me to foresee this,” he stated. The former vice president added that his support for coalition politics was also influenced by his desire to encourage the emergence of younger leaders he believes are vital to Nigeria’s future. “I saw some of these younger politicians as the future leaders of this country, and I felt it was my duty to point that out,” he said. However, Atiku claimed the resistance he encountered within the party was driven more by personal feelings than by disagreement over the substance of his proposal. “They disagreed with me simply because they did not want to see my face, not because of what I was suggesting,” he said. Atiku added that recent political developments have now vindicated his position on the need for a broad opposition alliance ahead of future elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will first pursue a consensus arrangement before considering a primary election for its 2027 presidential ticket.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made this known during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday while discussing the party’s leadership and strategy ahead of the next general election.
He said he is open to backing a consensus candidate if that becomes the party’s collective decision, stressing that such support should not be interpreted as stepping aside.
“It is not about stepping aside, but whether I am willing to support, and yes, I will,” Atiku said.
According to him, the ADC’s first priority is to build internal unity and reach an agreement among stakeholders before considering a competitive primary process.
“Our first option will be to work out a consensus. If that doesn’t happen, then of course we will explore other options. And yes, I will support whoever eventually emerges,” he stated.
Atiku also expressed confidence in the political experience within the party, saying he believes a consensus is achievable and may make a full-scale primary contest unnecessary.
“That remains our preferred path. We will go for primaries if consensus fails, but I honestly do not expect it to get to that stage because we are dealing with mature and experienced politicians,” he added.
His comments come amid growing political consultations and coalition talks as parties begin to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has significantly strengthened his chances of winning the 2027 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday. Speaking on what makes his latest presidential bid different from previous attempts, Atiku said the ADC coalition brings together key political figures from across major parties, including the APC, PDP and Labour Party. He described the alliance as a broader and more strategic political arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, the coalition has created a stronger platform that improves his prospects. “Now, we have a broader coalition — a combination of APC, PDP and LP — which gives me a better chance of becoming president in 2027,” he said. Atiku also noted that the coalition reflects both experience and generational inclusion, which he said shows a clear succession plan. “You see people of my generation, and you see younger people coming behind us, so you can clearly see a succession pattern,” he added. Meanwhile, Atiku described former President Goodluck Jonathan as a decent but inexperienced leader. According to him, Jonathan’s lack of experience contributed to shortcomings in governance and played a role in his defeat in the 2015 presidential election. “I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but he was also inexperienced, and that contributed to his failure in managing the affairs of the country,” Atiku said. He made the remarks while stressing the need for experienced and capable leadership in Nigeria.
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