Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has demanded the immediate release of more than ₦130 billion in statutory allocations which he said have been withheld from the state’s local governments, warning that the continued blockade is crippling grassroots governance and deepening hardship for workers and residents.

The governor made the demand in a statewide broadcast on Monday, during which he addressed the illegal occupation of local government secretariats and what he described as a threat to democratic order in the state.

Mr. Adeleke said court-sacked chairmen and councillors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had unlawfully occupied council secretariats across Osun State for nearly one year, despite clear judgments of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, delivered in November 2022, and subsequent affirmations by the Court of Appeal in February and June 2025, which nullified their elections.

“The court removed them, not my administration,” the governor said.

He explained that fresh local government elections were conducted in strict compliance with subsisting court orders, culminating in the swearing-in of duly elected chairmen and councillors on February 23, 2025. He described those currently occupying the secretariats as impostors acting without any lawful mandate.

Mr. Adeleke accused the immediate past governor of Osun State, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, of allegedly backing the continued occupation of the councils with police support, an action he said undermines democracy and the rule of law.

He further alleged that local government workers who attempted to resume their duties were harassed and intimidated by armed police officers and political thugs.

Central to the governor’s address was the issue of withheld local government funds. Mr. Adeleke disclosed that since February 2025, statutory allocations due to Osun local governments—now totalling about ₦130 billion—have not been released into the legally recognised accounts of the councils.

He said the funds are critical for the payment of salaries and entitlements of primary school teachers, nurses, health workers across 332 primary health care centres, local government staff, traditional councils, and retirees.

According to the governor, the state government has been compelled to source alternative funds and make what he described as painful sacrifices to keep salaries paid for almost 12 months, a situation he warned was unsustainable.

“Governance is about humanity, responsibility, and compassion, but this burden cannot continue indefinitely,” he said.

Mr. Adeleke also accused United Bank for Africa (UBA) of allegedly permitting unauthorised individuals to operate local government accounts, adding that senior bank officials involved in the matter are already facing criminal prosecution.

He questioned whether such conduct would be tolerated in jurisdictions such as New York or London, where the bank also operates.

Calling for federal intervention, the governor appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the immediate release of the withheld funds and to protect democratic institutions.

He insisted that the President was not complicit in the alleged illegality and urged him to rescue Osun local governments from what he described as an unlawful siege.

“There is no provision in our Constitution for tenure elongation,” Mr. Adeleke said, framing the situation as a clear choice between constitutional order and what he called naked impunity.

He also called on Nigerians and advocates of democracy to demand an end to the occupation of local government secretariats and the release of council funds.

The governor urged residents of the state to remain peaceful and law-abiding, while assuring them of his administration’s commitment to upholding the Constitution and safeguarding their welfare.