Withheld Local Government Allocations Amid Leadership Dispute
The Osun State Government has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government at the Supreme Court, seeking the release of local government allocations for February, March, and April 2025. The funds were withheld due to a dispute over the legitimacy of local government leadership in the state.
The conflict stems from the Osun State Government's decision to conduct local government elections on February 22, 2025, resulting in the election of officials under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This move followed a Federal High Court judgment that nullified the previous local government elections held in October 2022. However, the Court of Appeal later overturned this judgment, reinstating the officials elected in 2022 under the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, has advised that the tenure of the reinstated officials remains valid until October 2025, rendering the February 2025 elections invalid.
In response, the Osun State Government has petitioned the AGF, the Auditor-General of the Federation, and the Central Bank of Nigeria to recognize the newly elected PDP officials and to facilitate the release of the withheld allocations. The state argues that the February elections were conducted in compliance with legal procedures and that the officials elected are the legitimate representatives of the local governments.
The APC in Osun State has criticized the state's actions, labeling the newly elected officials as "illegally selected" and urging federal authorities to disregard the state's petitions.
This legal battle highlights the ongoing tensions between state and federal authorities over local government autonomy and the interpretation of judicial decisions. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the administration of local governments across Nigeria.
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