The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State has escalated its grievances over the withheld local government funds and alleged disobedience of a court order by petitioning Western embassies and global human rights organisations.
In a statement issued on Monday, August 4, 2025, and signed by the party’s chairman, Sunday Bisi, the PDP accused the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, of undermining a Court of Appeal judgment that recognized PDP-elected local government chairmen and councillors.
The party claimed that allocations meant for Osun State’s local governments have been illegally withheld for five consecutive months, describing the action as politically motivated.
According to the PDP, Oyetola is exploiting his familial ties to President Bola Tinubu to justify the withholding of funds without a legal basis. The party emphasised that the Court of Appeal’s judgment legally reinstated its elected officials, and any defiance constitutes contempt of court.
The PDP called for international intervention, urging Western embassies and rights groups to impose sanctions, including visa bans, on Fagbemi and Oyetola for actions it claims threaten democratic governance in Osun State.
“This is a democracy, and no individual should be allowed to breach the constitution and due process,” Bisi stated. The party also requested global bodies to monitor and document anti-democratic practices in Osun ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial election, which it described as a critical test case for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The PDP vowed to persist in its protests, targeting organisations like Transparency International, Amnesty International, and the European Union until the withheld funds are released and its elected officials are allowed to function. The party’s move highlights the escalating political tension in Osun, where the legitimacy of local government leadership remains a contentious issue.
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