The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has levelled serious accusations against the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, alleging abuse of office and high-handedness in the ongoing controversy surrounding withheld local government allocations in the state.
In a statement issued on Monday by Olaleke Bamiji, the PDP’s Media Director in Osun, the party described the AGF’s action as a violation of constitutional norms and a grave threat to the doctrine of separation of powers. The party called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and rein in Fagbemi, emphasizing that no public official is above the law.
According to the PDP, the AGF’s involvement in halting fund disbursement to democratically elected local governments in Osun State was politically motivated and devoid of any judicial backing. “No court has issued any pronouncement to warrant such fiscal strangulation,” the statement noted. “This is not only an illegality but a calculated attempt to undermine good governance in Osun State.”
The party cited Fagbemi’s previous role as legal counsel to former Governor Gboyega Oyetola—now the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy—as a conflict of interest, arguing that he should have recused himself from issues related to Osun’s political affairs. “Nemo judex in causa sua—no one should be a judge in his own cause,” the statement read.
The PDP also dismissed the AGF’s earlier warning to the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) against conducting local government elections as lacking credibility and fairness.
Reacting to the PDP’s claims, the Osun State All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the accusations as baseless, calling on the public to ignore what it described as the PDP’s desperate attempt to mislead the public. In a counter-statement issued by Kola Olabisi, Director of Media and Information for the Osun APC, the party blamed the Adeleke-led PDP government for imposing hardship on grassroots workers by halting local government administration since February 16, 2025.
“The PDP government is desperate and has subjected millions of people to avoidable hardship to prevent the APC from reclaiming its mandate,” Olabisi said. He also criticized the PDP for accusing Fagbemi of bias, arguing that the law is not meant to serve any political party’s interest.
The APC further alleged that the PDP has filed multiple lawsuits, including appeals to the Supreme Court, in a bid to override a Court of Appeal judgment which reinstated APC officials elected in October 2022. It described these efforts as “a deceit designed to rubbish the judgment.”
Commending the Federal Government’s stance, the APC praised the decision to withhold local government funds, insisting it upholds the rule of law over what it called the PDP’s reliance on “lobby tactics.”
The power struggle over local government administration continues to deepen tensions in the state, with both parties claiming legal and electoral legitimacy. While the PDP insists its candidates won the February 22, 2025 polls, the APC maintains that a Court of Appeal ruling has reinstated officials elected during Oyetola’s administration in October 2022.
What you should know
The Osun PDP has accused AGF Lateef Fagbemi of using his office to obstruct local government fund allocations, calling it unconstitutional and politically biased.
The APC fired back, defending the AGF and blaming the PDP for grassroots administrative paralysis. The tussle stems from disputed local government elections, with both parties citing different legal victories.
