The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a warning to Governor Ademola Adeleke's administration, alleging that local government workers are being victimised based on their political affiliations. The party claims that some council employees are being investigated and disciplined due to their alleged support for the APC during the August 15, 2026 governorship election. This warning was contained in a statement signed by the APC Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi.
According to the APC, a committee has been set up by the Osun State Local Government Service Commission to investigate workers suspected of supporting the opposition during the election. The committee is allegedly chaired by Tunji Adeleke Jnr, the governor's nephew and chairman of the Local Government Service Commission. The party claims that some local government workers have been summoned before an investigative and disciplinary panel at the commission's premises in the Osun State Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo.
The APC further alleges that the workers are being questioned about their political activities and contacts before and during the election. The party also raised concerns over the alleged examination of the workers' mobile phones, with some reportedly directed to submit their phones for scrutiny. Their messages and communications are allegedly being examined for links to APC members and supporters. This has raised concerns about the government's handling of the local government system.
The investigation has also extended to workers' banking activities, with some employees questioned about their bank accounts and transactions, particularly those involving United Bank for Africa (UBA). The APC described the alleged actions as an attempt to monitor the political choices of public servants. The party argued that local government employees should not be punished due to their political party support or the candidate they voted for during an election.
The APC questioned how an individual's voting preference could be established through the examination of mobile phones, bank alerts, or other personal records, stressing that elections in Nigeria are conducted through secret ballot. The party claimed that some workers have faced threats of suspension, dismissal, or other disciplinary actions due to their perceived political leanings. Additionally, the salary accounts of some local government employees have allegedly been deactivated.
The APC has called on Governor Adeleke to immediately restore the affected accounts and ensure that the workers receive their salaries. The party also demanded the dissolution of the committee investigating the workers, describing it as an "obnoxious committee" and accusing it of exceeding its authority. In January 2026, Governor Adeleke called for the release of over N130 billion in local government allocations, which his administration claimed had been withheld.
The state government has maintained that financial challenges linked to the local government crisis have affected its ability to meet some obligations. At the 2026 Workers' Day celebration, Adeleke stated that his administration had continued to pay local government workers despite the withholding of local government funds. The APC, however, continues to challenge the government's handling of the local government system, with the Association of Concerned Local Government Workers alleging that over 400 local government employees have been suspended or removed from the state payroll.
Key points
- The Osun APC has warned Governor Adeleke's administration over alleged victimisation of local government workers based on political affiliations.
- The party claims that some council employees are being investigated and disciplined due to their alleged support for the APC during the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
- The APC has called on Governor Adeleke to restore the affected accounts and dissolve the committee investigating the workers.
