The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Federal Government of deliberately withholding statutory allocations meant for local governments in Osun State, alleging that the move is politically motivated ahead of the state’s governorship election.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party described the action as “political terrorism,” arguing that the continued freezing of the funds is hurting ordinary residents rather than politicians.
According to the ADC, the dispute has affected the payment of workers’ salaries, primary healthcare services, education and other essential services at the grassroots level.
The party alleged that the withholding of local government allocations is part of a broader effort to weaken the Osun State Government before the election.
It also accused the Federal Government of allowing unelected APC loyalists to continue occupying local government councils in the state while alleging that opposition members have faced politically motivated arrests.
“Political opponents are not enemy combatants. Opposition-controlled states are not occupied territories. Public institutions do not belong to whichever party temporarily controls the federal government,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC argued that using public funds as leverage in a political contest amounts to punishing innocent citizens.
“This sinister move confirms that the Tinubu-led Federal Government will do anything, including starving the people of Osun State, to achieve its political objectives. Yet no democracy worthy of the name deliberately sacrifices the welfare of innocent citizens in pursuit of partisan political ends,” the statement added.
The party further claimed that President Bola Tinubu’s approach to politics could undermine democratic governance by treating elections as warfare instead of healthy political competition.
“We have noted earlier that President Bola Tinubu’s mentality, which regards political contests as warfare, constitutes a serious threat to democratic engagement. But even in war, there are rules of engagement that recognise human dignity and place limits on the conduct of adversaries,” Abdullahi stated.
The ADC also alleged that armed groups linked to the APC had intimidated communities across Osun State while accusing some security agencies of failing to uphold constitutional order.
The opposition party called for the immediate release of all statutory allocations due to Osun’s local governments and urged the Federal Government to allow residents freely decide their leaders without intimidation.
“Political opponents are not enemy combatants. Opposition-controlled states are not occupied territories. Public institutions do not belong to whichever party temporarily controls the federal government,” Abdullahi reiterated.
