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The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hailed the Supreme Court’s split judgment on the withheld local government allocations in the state.
The PDP on Friday described the ruling as a clear affirmation of the rule of law and a major reproach to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
In a statement on Thursday, the State Chairman of the party, Hon Sunday Bisi, said the apex court’s pronouncement had “lifted the veil over the unconstitutional and erroneous directives” issued by the Attorney-General to the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Finance, directing them to pay local government funds to “illegal entities” in Osun State.
The party maintained that it had repeatedly cautioned that the crisis was avoidable and was fueled by the Attorney-General, whom it accused of attempting to “rewrite the Nigerian Constitution” by instructing sacked local government chairmen — described as products of a flawed electoral process —.to open bank accounts in defiance of subsisting court judgments.
The PDP added that the situation became more troubling after the Court of Appeal in Akure affirmed the validity of the February 22, 2025 local government election in Osun State.
Despite this, the Attorney-General still authorised the release of funds to individuals “who had no legal mandate, simply because they were members of the APC.”
According to the party, “By inference from The SupremeCourt’s decision today, those bank accounts as domiciled in the United Bank For Africa (UBA) are inoperable and criminal, as the process leading to their opening has been effectively declared illegal by the Supreme Court.”
Hon Bisi said the outcome at the Supreme Court had exposed “the illegalities and partisan arrogance” that guided the Attorney-General’s actions, adding that the judgement had restored constitutional clarity to the matter.
The party urged all stakeholders to abide by the ruling and avoid being influenced by “desperate APC elements who are bent on derailing democracy through unbridled hunger for power.”
The statement also commended the Awotunde-led ALGON in Osun State for its restraint and patriotism “in the face of stark provocations,” praising the group for prioritising democratic stability.
Furthermore, the PDP expressed appreciation to residents of Osun State for their support throughout what it described as a “dark period imposed on the state by rejected APC forces,” urging citizens to maintain confidence in the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Hon Bisi reiterated that “the only legally recognised local government chairmen in Osun State are those elected on February 22, 2025, under the supervision of OSIEC, a position already affirmed by the Court of Appeal in Akure on June 13, 2025.”
The party also advised the police and other security agencies against taking illegal sides in the dispute, warning that providing protection for individuals in the APC already removed by court orders “is a direct invitation to anarchy.”
The PDP assured citizens that it would continue to support the state government and the democratically elected chairmen in protecting grassroots funds from “political thieves and opportunists.”
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that Supreme Court criticised the Nigerian government for withholding Osun State’s local government funds, even as it faulted the Osun State government for instituting the action on behalf of the 30 councils without proper authorisation.
In its majority judgment, the Apex Court held that the Osun State Attorney General had no legal right to file the suit on behalf of the local governments.
It ruled that “those who won the local government election and having been inaugurated are the jurisdict persons that can sue and be sued directly.”
The Court, however, declared unequivocally that the Federal Government acted unlawfully by seizing the funds. It held that the action was “in grave breach of the 1999 Constitution.”
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Mohammed Idris held that the conduct of the Federal Government was constitutionally indefensible.
He stated that “the hand of the federal government was soiled” in its decision to unjustly withhold funds, and admonished it to ensure that allocations are “directly channelled to local accounts.”
The Court also dismissed the Attorney-General of the Federation’s contempt allegations against Osun State, noting that he was “in more contempt than Osun by not paying the fund as required by law.”
While faulting the Federal Government, the Court simultaneously reprimanded Osun State for initiating the suit without proof of consent from the councils. Justice Idris ruled that since “there was no evidence that Osun Attorney General was briefed by the local governments, he ought not to have filed the case on their behalf.”
In a minority judgment, Justice Emmanuel Agim disagreed with the majority, insisting that the Osun Attorney General had the authority to file the suit.
He added that the Federal Government’s action was unacceptable, saying it was “in bad taste because it was capable of crippling the activities of the Councils.
In an enrolment of order dated September 26, 2025, in Suit No. I/1149/25, filed by the Attorney General of Osun State and the Osun State Local Government Service Commission against UBA, the claimants sought interim protection over local government allocations.
