The Osun State House of Assembly on Thursday warned the Minister of Finance, Accountant-General of the Federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria against releasing allocations meant for local government administration in the state to the chairmen elected in 2022 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, describing them as impostors.
The lawmakers drew the attention of the Federal Government and the apex bank to judgements of a Federal High Court, Osogbo in suit numbers: FHC/OS/CS/94 &
FHC/OS/CS/103/2022, which declared the local government elections held on 15th October, 2022, which produced the APC chairmen as unconstitutional, null and void, and “sacked the individuals purportedly elected therein, while the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, on 13th June 2025 dismissed a motion to relist an appeal arising from the said election, thereby upholding the subsisting High Court judgments and affirming that no valid reinstatement has occured.”
Consequently, the House regarded the APC chairmen who are currently occupying the LG secretariats as impostors, warning the Ministry of Finance, Accountant-General of the Federation and the CBN against paying the state council funds to them.
The lawmakers threatened to institute a suit against the federal ministries and bank should they refuse to release the LG allocations to those elected as chairmen and councillors on February 22 2025 under the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.
Affirming the PDP chairmen and councillors as the legitimate executives in charge of local government councils across the state, the state legislators condemned in strong terms, the alleged attempt by the Osun State Branch of CBN to process or operate Local Government accounts using thr APC chairmen and councilors despite the withdrawal of their Certificates of Return by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission and the nullification of their elections by competent courts.
According to them, “Such action is a direct affront to the laws of Osun State and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”
During plenary on Thursday, the Assembly described the APC chairmen as impostors, accusing them of causing hardship at the grassroots through their continued occupation and closure of council offices.
Raising the matter, Adewumi Adeyemi of Obokun constituency decried the ongoing crisis at the local councils, calling it regrettable.
Other lawmakers supported his position, expressing concern over reports that the CBN was allegedly preparing to channel LG allocations into unauthorised accounts accessible to the ousted officials.
The Majority Leader, Kofoworola Adewumi, moved a resolution to resist attempts to unseat the PDP chairmen, which was seconded by Olujinmi Asagade of Ejigbo Constituency.
The Speaker, Adewale Egbedun, subsequently passed the resolution, which was unanimously adopted by the House.
“Having deliberated extensively on the status of Local government administration in the State, bearing in mind the provisions of Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), this Honourable House hereby re-affirms the exclusive recognition of February 22nd, 2025 democratically-elected Local Government Chairmen and Councillors in the State, condemns the illegal occupation of Local Government Secretariats as well as an attempt to interfere with local government statutory funds by certain impostors and resolves as follows:
“That pursuant to Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution, this Honourable House re-affirms that only February 22nd, 2025 democratically elected Local Government Chairmen and Councillors in Osun State are legitimate and constitutionally recognised custodians of local government mandate and affairs;
“That any purported recognition or installation of individuals whose tenure arose from the annulled October 15, 2022 local government elections, and who now falsely claim reinstatement by the Court of Appeal is unconstitutional, null and void, and without legal effect;
“That no parallel structures or appointments by unauthorised individuals shall be lawful or recognised for the operation of Local Government accounts in Osun State;
That this Honourable House condemns in strong terms, the attempt by the Central Bank of Nigeria (Osun State Branch) to process or operate Local Government accounts using certain impostors ( that is, individuals parading as chairmen and councilors despite the withdrawal of their Certificates of Return by OSSIEC and the nullification of their elections by competent courts). Such action is a direct affront to the laws of Osun State and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended);
“That this House further affirms that, by law, only duly appointed career officers namely, the Director of Finance and the Director of Administration and General Services are authorised signatories to Local Government accounts, as stipulated in Section 14.0 of the 2025 Guidelines for the Administration of Local Government Areas in Osun State. The Bank Confirmation and Schedule shall only be valid when endorsed by the Head of Local Government Administration and the Chairman, as further required by law.;
“That any attempt to substitute these officers with unauthorised persons is not only unlawful but constitutes an attempt to divert public funds, and this House shall take all lawful measures to resist, report, and reverse such infractions;
“That this Honourable House expresses grave concern over the non-release of Local Government statutory allocations in Osun State and calls on the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Honourable Minister of Finance to immediately release all outstanding allocations through the lawful Local Government Accounts;
“That this Honourable House strongly condemns any attempt by unauthorised persons to approach the Central Bank of Nigeria for any transaction relating to Local Government Funds, which constitutes a breach of constitutional and statutory financial architecture; and that this Honourable House pledges to enforce the aforementioned resolutions by legal, legislative and constitutional means, including litigation, to protect the integrity of local government funds and the proper implementation of local government financial autonomy,” Egbedun declared.