Local government administration in Osun State has remained paralysed for 11 consecutive weeks, as the leadership tussle between the state’s two major political parties—the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC)—continues to deepen.
What began as a court battle over the legality of a local government election has spiralled into a full-blown political deadlock, bringing governance at the grassroots to a halt and denying citizens access to essential public services.
The deadlock had recently led to calls for a declaration of a state of emergency to restore order. But how did it all start and got to this point?
How legal dispute turned political
The conflict stems from the controversial local government election conducted on 15 October 2022, after then Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the APC, now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, had lost his re-election bid.
The election produced a full slate of APC chairmen and councillors. However, on November 25, 2022, the Federal High Court in Osogbo nullified the exercise, declaring it unlawful.
The sacked APC officials challenged the ruling and secured a favourable judgment from the Court of Appeal in Akure, which overturned the Federal High Court’s decision.
Buoyed by the appellate court’s verdict, the APC chairmen and councillors returned to their council offices, asserting their legitimacy.
But the PDP-led state government under Governor Ademola Adeleke dismissed the interpretation that the judgment amounted to reinstatement. In defiance, it conducted a fresh round of local elections on February 22, 2025, in which only PDP candidates contested and were declared winners. These PDP officials were subsequently sworn in but instructed by the governor not to assume physical control of the council secretariats to avoid conflict.
Amid the standoff, tensions reached a boiling point in several council areas, leading to violent clashes between rival party supporters. In Irewole Local Government, five people, including the sitting APC chairman, were killed.
Fearing for their safety, local government workers withdrew their services following joint directives from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) on February 24.
Since then, secretariats across the 30 local councils in Osun have remained deserted. Security operatives, including police officers, were stationed at various offices to prevent further escalation. But even with armed security presence, workers have not returned, and service delivery has come to a standstill.
Many residents say the prolonged strike has inflicted significant hardship.
“People who need marriage certificates, local government identification, and other important documents have been unjustly denied,” lamented Adegoke Alamu.
“All maternity centres are locked, and women and children in rural areas are dying as a result of this reckless shutdown,” he said.
Aderibigbe Akinola, another resident in Osogbo, appealed to the state government to prioritise the welfare of the people. “I want to appeal to the state government to take appropriate steps to address this matter in the interest of the masses,” he said.
Crisis factionalises NULGE
While the state chapter of NULGE maintains its stance on the strike, aligning with the directives from the national body, internal cracks have begun to appear. A splinter group, operating as the Association of Concerned Local Government Staff in Osun State, has urged workers to resume duty, arguing that their professional and financial interests are being undermined by prolonged inaction.
The group’s state coordinator, Adedayo Adekunle, accused NULGE state chairman, Dr Nathaniel Ogungbangbe, of nepotism and unilateral decision-making. According to him, Ogungbangbe has politicised the union’s operations and aligned with the PDP by joining legal proceedings against the APC chairmen and councillors.
“It is unfortunate that the NULGE leadership has turned the union into a family affair,” Adekunle said, adding that “the Osun NULGE is supposed to be apolitical. Our oath and culture are to serve all legally recognised governments, regardless of party affiliation.”
He further alleged that Ogungbangbe failed to consult other unions or the broader NULGE membership before ordering the withdrawal of services.
“We are ready to work with those lawfully at the secretariats based on the Court of Appeal judgment. If the Supreme Court says otherwise, or if their tenure expires, we’ll work with the next set of leaders. That is our covenant as civil servants,” he said.
Ogungbangbe could not be reached for reactions to the allegations as of the time of filing this report. Nonetheless, the national leadership of NULGE reaffirmed its support for the strike.
The national president, Comrade Aliyu Haruna Kankara, condemned what he described as the forceful occupation of the council offices by “non-constitutionally elected” opposition chairmen.
“The present situation has adversely affected day-to-day governance at the grassroots, and we stand in solidarity with our members in Osun,” he said.
Political claims and counterclaims
As the paralysis continues, both the APC and PDP have intensified their war of words. Kunle Kudaisi, the chairman of Olorunda Local Government in the 2022 election, said Governor Adeleke had shown disregard for the judiciary by failing to comply with the appellate court ruling.
“If the governor is dissatisfied with the judgment, he should approach the Supreme Court rather than resorting to self-help,” he said, adding that “We are in charge in line with the law and appeal to local government workers to return to their posts.”
Similarly, the spokesperson of the APC in Osun, Kola Olabisi, accused the governor of conducting a “kangaroo” election on February 22, 2025, despite being advised against it due to the existing appeal court ruling.
“There were no vacancies to fill. Yet, Governor Adeleke proceeded with an illegal election. We expect him to abide by the court ruling on the matter,” Olabisi said.
Governor Adeleke, however, has maintained that his actions are lawful and meant to preserve peace. He dismissed calls by some APC leaders for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the state, labelling such calls as alarmist and politically motivated.
PDP Chairman in Osun, Sunday Bisi, hit back at the APC, accusing it of undermining the judiciary and forcefully occupying secretariats.
“From the onset, we alerted the public to the illegality of the APC’s claims. Now they’re back at the Court of Appeal trying to revive a dismissed case. If the judgment was truly in their favour, why are they still in court?” he asked.
He further accused the APC of dragging the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), into the fray by misrepresenting legal advice. “Contrary to APC’s claims, all court documents are public information, widely available through media platforms,” he added.
Ordinary citizens bear the brunt
Beyond the political and legal arguments, observers noted that it is the ordinary citizens who have suffered the most. Residents in rural communities say they have been cut off from vital government services, including birth registration, immunisation, social support, and documentation.
Even staff on strike are growing weary. “I feel bad collecting salary without working,” Babalola Oluwaseun, a local government employee in Ilesa, said, adding, “The strike is affecting our lives too. Those due for study leave can’t process approvals, and cooperative loans have been halted due to the shutdown.”
With no end in sight, observers note that unless the warring parties reach a political and legal resolution, the paralysis in the Osun local government system could drag on, deepening hardship for the very people it is meant to serve. (Daily trust)
