Osun power struggle: APC, PDP feud escalates amid LG crisis

The ongoing political tension in Osun State, marked by clashes between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the opposition All Progressives Congress, appears to be a strategic buildup to the 2026 governorship election, writes BOLA BAMIGBOLA

Relying on the classic idiom, ‘Morning shows the day,’ a common English proverb that suggests that the beginning of something can be a good indicator of how it will turn out, it then can be safely concluded that the current political bullfight involving the opposition All Progressives Congress and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party may be a dress rehearsal ahead of 2026 governorship poll.

Beside occasional exchange of media salvos packaged in toxic press releases between the opposition camp manned by his spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, and the ruling PDP’s end where Oladele Bamiji was calling the shot, the state enjoyed momentary peace.

During that period of stillness in tension between the party in government and the one seeking to dethrone it in Osun, the governor, Ademola Adeleke, appeared to be sitting pretty.

The cool breeze coming from the ancient Osun Grove that provides a protective shield around the far-famed River Osun like a dotting husband around his wife was probably driving many residents of the State of the Living Spring into pleasant rest before trouble made a cameo appearance in form of Court of Appeal, Akure Division, which allowed the appeal filed by the chairmen and councillors elected in the October 15, 2022, local government election in the state.

The opposition APC has left no one in doubt about its desire to unseat the occupant of the Bola Ige Governor’s House. However, its efforts to bring the governor down did not seem to be hitting the bull’s eye until the February 10, 2025, Akure Court of Appeal judgment struck Osun’s political scene like a tornado.

Since then, the situation around Osun political space has been a case of hen perching on clothesline, creating uneasiness for itself and the line.

The disagreement between the state government backed by the PDP and the APC, would soon move to the next stage, signposted by the enforcement of the court judgment.

According to police records, six lives were lost during violent clashes between the warring parties, while many injured in the fracas are still nursing their injuries in many hospital wards across the state.

Even with the bloodshed and shrieking cries that accompanied the killings, the warring parties did not show any sign of slowing down.

While atmosphere of uncertainties still loom over local government areas in the state with the APC and the government intensifying effort to gain support of powers that be within and outside Osun to consolidate their position and pull the rug under the feet of the opponent, stage appears set for a fresh layer in the agonisingly bitter contest for power in the state.

The probe…

A bulky book containing infractions committed by key officials who held power in the administration of the immediate past governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, has since become the most important book in the state.

It has been attracting attention of the highs and the lows in the state since the Adeleke administration disclosed intention of involve anti-graft agencies in the probe of the resource management of its predecessor.

The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, while explaining how the probe began in a statement, said “Osun State government has read with interest the gibberish pushed to the public by the Osun State All Progressive Congress in response to the fact-based petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by the state government in a feeble and desperate attempt to distract from the weighty allegations of financial misconduct detailed in the government’s petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“Rather than address the damning revelations of corruption, misappropriation, and abuse of office, the APC has chosen to resort to baseless propaganda, outright falsehoods, and diversionary tactics. This reckless approach only reinforces the fact that the party and its leaders have no reasonable defence against the allegations.

“To set the record straight, the EFCC petition is not a product of a political witch-hunt but the culmination of a painstaking, evidence-based process that began in early 2023. A contract review committee was constituted to examine the financial dealings of the previous administration, and its findings uncovered a shocking scale of malfeasance, violations of due process, and brazen acts of corruption under the leadership of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola.

“In response, a White Paper Committee was established, which further reviewed and validated the findings, ultimately recommending the prosecution of implicated officials. These recommendations were subsequently approved by the State Executive Council in 2024. Given the sheer magnitude of financial recklessness uncovered, the administration had a duty to the people of Osun State to ensure accountability rather than sweep the report under the carpet.

“Consequently, a White Paper Implementation Committee was inaugurated in late 2024, and after rigorous scrutiny of the documented infractions, a legal team was engaged to compile a comprehensive petition, which was submitted to the EFCC on Friday, March 7, 2025.

“The petition presents indisputable material evidence of financial misconduct, money laundering, brazen violations of the Public Procurement Act, 2007

“One of the most damning discoveries was the mismanagement of funds meant for the renovation of 320 primary healthcare centres across Osun State. Rather than follow due process, the former governor unilaterally awarded contracts without any competitive bidding – a clear violation of procurement laws.

“Shockingly, these contracts were handed to close allies, political associates, and family members of top officials, many of whom had no prior experience in construction. Despite receiving full payments, these firms delivered substandard renovations, further proving the criminal intent behind the fraudulent scheme.

“Additionally, the investigation uncovered a staggering N1.5 billion laundered through the Osun chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) between January and October 2022. Financial records obtained from Zenith Bank reveal that funds were funnelled into a private account linked to one Akeem Ibitoye, a local government employee and Director of Finance at Ejigbo Local Government. Subsequent cash withdrawals ranging from N10 million to N30 million were carried out daily with no legitimate records of official use.”

Alimi said the Adeleke administration, acting true to its mandate, “does not turn a blind eye to this level of financial recklessness and fraud. Unlike the APC, which thrives on impunity, Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration is committed to accountability, transparency, and the rule of law.

“Let it be clear: the Osun State Government will not be intimidated or blackmailed into silence. The former officials implicated in this petition should prepare to answer for their actions before the appropriate authorities instead of issuing desperate and misleading press statements.”

The defence…

Before the government defended the probe, Osun APC described the Adeleke administration as vindictive and petty, saying it embarked on the investigation of the past state officials targeting those considered harsh critics of the governor.

The Osun APC, having dismissed the allegations of misappropriation and violations of the Public Procurement Act against the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Oyetola, insisted that Adeleke’s move was a diversionary tactic, having lost control of the local government administration.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, Osun APC spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, further said, “When the attempt to force their way to the local government offices failed, they are now resorting to another crude tactic of attempting to tarnish the image of the former governor of the state, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, a man of candour and probity, who served the state honourably.

“In the recent propaganda escalated to the country’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, chronicling falsehood to soil the name of Oyetola and those who worked in his government, the Adeleke government said the $20m Save-One-Million Lives Programme was stolen and was not used for the purpose it was meant.”

Olabisi, who maintained that the fund received by Oyetola’s administration was monitored by the donor, added, “We will share with you details of how the Oyetola government enhanced and scaled up health in Osun through the grant. We invite the media and the public to peruse the document, containing pictures of facilities and programmes executed, to verify our claims.

“Not only was the fund used to improve health in the state, but the contract awards followed the relevant procurement laws of the state. We make bold to state that no commissioner, adviser or appointee of ex-Governor Oyetola was awarded contracts while serving in government.

“We challenge the state government, which is now on a witch-hunt mission, to publish names of contractors and date of contract awards to substantiate their evil narrative. Unlike Oyetola who uploaded 110 contract and procurement details on the government portal in three years, the current government has only published seven contract details in two years, raising eyebrows about his commitment to accountability and transparency.

“We want to state unequivocally that Oyetola followed all legal and procedural requirements in governance. The claim that he ‘flouted procurement rules’ is misleading, as contracts were awarded in line with the Osun State Public Procurement Law. If the current jesters think sponsoring mudslinging will discourage APC from giving life to the judgment of the Court of Appeal reinstating its chairmen and councillors, then the government should bury the thought. The chairmen and councillors have come to stay and they are resolute on giving the dividends of democracy to the people of Osun.”

Dress rehearsal for 2026 poll –  CSOs

The convener of a Civil Society Organisation, Nigerians for Good Governance, Wole Oladapo, urged the APC and PDP to put the interest of the generality of Osun above their primary aim.

Oladapo, while commenting on the current state of affairs in Osun political space, was of the view that the two parties were preparing for the epic battle of 2026 governorship poll, testing strength without looking at the implications of their actions on the residents.

“Political parties exist to gain control of power and use it as they wish. What is happening in Osun currently is simply a dress rehearsal ahead of the epic battle for power in 2026.

“We can only beg them to think of the effects of the endless fight on the well-being of those who do not do party politics. We deserve to live in peace but these political irritants will not allow us that privilege. It is sad,” Oladapo said.

Another CSO convener in the state, Comrade Waheed Saka of Dialogue 365, demanded civility in the approach by the two parties to retain or get political power.

Saka was of the view that overheating the polity many months before the governorship poll may be counter-productive for the two parties.

He further said, “The two parties must be civil in their approach. We all know they are preparing for the 2026 governorship poll but they should think of the masses first. We deserve some respect from them.”