Osun LG crisis: Political power play at the expense of the people
The protracted battle for control of local government councils in Osun State between the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has ground governance to a standstill, leaving ordinary citizens to bear the consequences. While political gladiators wrestle for dominance, residents are left without essential services, businesses are disrupted, and grassroots governance has collapsed.
At the heart of the crisis is the legitimacy of the local government leadership. The PDP-led state government conducted local government elections on 22nd February 2025, under the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), leading to the swearing-in of new chairmen and councillors.
However, the APC, whose members previously held the positions, disputes the process, insisting that the Court of Appeal had reinstated its own elected officials from the 2022 elections. This disagreement has resulted in a dangerous impasse, where both factions lay claim to the secretariats, further deepening the state’s political instability.
The worst casualties of this power struggle are the people of Osun State, who rely on local governments for basic services. The indefinite withdrawal of services by local government workers, under the directive of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), has exacerbated the situation.
In a statement on 16th February 2025, signed by its state president, Dr Nathaniel Kehinde Ogungbangbe, NULGE made it clear that their members would not work under an atmosphere of insecurity.
“The Osun State NULGE has noticed the political uproar bringing agitations and fear among our members working within the Local Government Areas across the state. The Osun State NULGE is apolitical, but we won’t allow our members to work in an atmosphere of insecurity,” the statement read.
As a result of the shutdown, critical services such as birth and death registrations, marriage certifications, local business permits, and community development initiatives have all come to a halt. For a state already grappling with economic challenges, the continued closure of local government offices further strains governance, disrupts revenue collection, and affects grassroots development projects. Worse still, urban residents, who rely exclusively on council services, are left stranded without alternatives.
This crisis raises larger questions about the state of democracy in Nigeria. Local government, as the closest tier of government to the people, should not be reduced to a mere battleground for political supremacy. Rather than serving as platforms for service delivery and development, local councils have become pawns in the relentless struggle for control between state and opposition forces. The lack of autonomy for local governments has made them vulnerable to political interference, a problem that continues to plague Nigeria’s governance structure.
At what point do political actors realise that governance is about the people, not their personal ambitions? It is imperative that both parties set aside their differences and prioritise the welfare of the citizens. The people of Osun State deserve a functioning local government system, not a prolonged political war that only worsens their suffering. Dialogue, legal resolution, and a commitment to democratic principles must be the way forward.
Osun’s political leaders must remember: power is transient, but the impact of poor governance is long-lasting. When two elephants fight, it is indeed the grass that suffers. The residents of Osun can no longer afford to be collateral damage in this avoidable conflict. It is time for responsible leadership.
