Osun APC Accuses Adeleke of Political Victimisation of LG Workers, Demands Probe Panel Disbandment

 Oriontimes Newsroom | September 22, 2026

OSOGBO — The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke of allegedly victimising local government workers over their perceived political affiliations, describing the reported actions as unacceptable and demanding the immediate dissolution of a committee investigating some council staff.

In a statement dated September 22, 2026 and signed by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Mogaji Kola Olabisi, the APC alleged that a committee constituted by the Osun State Local Government Service Commission had been investigating council workers suspected of supporting the opposition party during the August 15 governorship election.

The party claimed that affected workers had been invited to appear before an investigative and disciplinary panel at the Local Government Service Commission premises in Abere, Osogbo.

According to the APC, some of the workers were allegedly instructed to bring their mobile phones, which the party said were subsequently subjected to searches purportedly aimed at establishing whether they communicated with APC members before or during the election.

The party further alleged that questions were also being raised about banking transactions involving United Bank for Africa (UBA), amid the continuing dispute over the control and funding of Osun’s 30 local government councils.

The APC described the alleged scrutiny of workers’ political activities, mobile phones and financial transactions as an inappropriate extension of political disputes into the civil service.

“It is inhuman, barbaric and unconstitutional for you to victimise and dehumanise LG workers on their political affiliation,” the party stated.

The allegations come against the backdrop of the prolonged political and administrative dispute over the control of Osun’s local government councils. The controversy has involved the state government and APC-backed local government officials, with competing claims over the lawful administration of the councils.

The issue of affected local government workers has also previously generated political controversy. In May 2026, the Association of Concerned Local Government Workers alleged that more than 400 council employees had been suspended or removed from the state payroll in connection with the local government dispute. The claim was reported by several Nigerian media organisations, although it was presented as an allegation by the workers’ association.

The association had also publicly backed the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of the August 15 election, adding a political dimension to the wider dispute over local government administration.

The APC, however, argued that political affiliation should not determine the treatment of public servants, insisting that workers should be allowed to perform their statutory responsibilities irrespective of their political preferences.

The party also questioned the practical basis for determining how individual workers voted, noting that voting in Nigerian elections is conducted through a secret ballot.

It consequently called on Governor Adeleke to stop what it described as intimidation of local government employees and to reactivate the accounts of workers whose salary-payment status had allegedly been affected.

The APC further demanded that the governor disband the investigative committee, alleging that its activities amounted to political surveillance rather than legitimate administrative oversight.

The party said allowing political disagreements to determine the treatment of civil servants could undermine continuity and professionalism within local government administration.

The statement represents the APC’s account of the situation. The allegations concerning phone searches, bank-account scrutiny, threats of disciplinary action and political victimisation would require confirmation from the affected workers and a response from the Osun State Government or the Local Government Service Commission.

The Local Government Service Commission has previously stated publicly that it has authority to address wrongdoing within the local government service and has urged council workers to remain diligent and effective in their official duties.

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