The Omoluabi Progressives, a political group loyal to former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola, has accused the Federal Government of illegally disbursing local government allocations in Osun State to individuals it described as “illegal” chairmen aligned with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, the group warned against the spending of six months’ worth of local government funds recently released by the FG, claiming the allocations were unlawfully transferred into the accounts of persons not legally recognised.
Speaking at a press conference in Osogbo, the chairman of the group, Mr Isha Adesiji, said the action constituted “a gross violation of financial regulations” and alleged that the APC-led Federal Government was attempting to convert Osun’s public funds into a “political war chest.”
“Government allocations cannot be paid directly or indirectly into any individual’s account. Doing so amounts to an egregious violation of financial procedures, which the ICPC should urgently investigate,” Adesiji said.
He cautioned chairmen elected during the October 15, 2022 council election, held under former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, to steer clear of the funds, warning that touching the money could have legal consequences.
“The so-called ‘YES OR NO’ illegal chairmen must not touch the money. The Federal Government must stop treating Osun people’s resources as the APC’s political war fund,” Adesiji added.
The group further alleged that the Federal Government was disregarding valid court orders and instead supporting what it called a “disbanded” group of local officials reinstated by a controversial Court of Appeal judgment delivered on February 10, 2025.
“This unconscionable act amounts to a declaration of war against the Nigerian Constitution and the people of Osun State,” Adesiji said. “It sets a dangerous precedent where the Federal Government disregards court judgments to entrench its party’s rejected cronies in power.”
The Omoluabi Progressives called on professional associations, civil society organisations, and labour unions to speak out against what it termed the Federal Government’s “creeping authoritarianism,” arguing that the issue transcends partisan politics and touches the foundation of constitutional democracy.
APC fires back
Reacting swiftly, the Osun APC dismissed the allegations as “belated, baseless, and attention-seeking.”
In a statement issued by the party’s spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, the APC accused the Aregbesola-backed group of aligning with the PDP-led Osun State Government and misrepresenting the appellate court’s ruling.
“It would be pertinent for discerning minds to ask if those driving the affairs of Omoluabi Progressives have just woken up from their slumber,” Olabisi said.
He argued that the February court ruling had effectively reinstated the APC chairmen and councillors, making their access to statutory allocations legal and valid.
“Their tirade is not only stale but exposes their bias and desperation to remain relevant,” he said, urging the group to concentrate on reviving the African Democratic Congress (ADC)—the party under which Aregbesola currently serves as National Secretary—instead of “dabbling in issues that do not concern it.”
Background
The controversy stems from the lingering dispute over the legality of the October 2022 local government elections, which the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government in Osun State has consistently challenged in court.
Following a high court ruling nullifying the elections, a Court of Appeal decision in early 2025 reportedly reinstated the APC officials. However, the ruling remains politically divisive, with both parties interpreting its implications differently.
Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration has yet to recognise the reinstated officials, maintaining that the election that brought them to power was flawed.
As tensions mount over the control of local government funds in the state, observers warn that the issue could further deepen political divisions in Osun ahead of future elections.
