Adeleke Denies Bribery Allegations, Accuses Osun APC of Undermining Judiciary

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has dismissed allegations by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that he bribed leaders of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), describing the claims as baseless and a threat to democracy and the judiciary.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke said the APC’s accusations were unfounded and represented another attempt to undermine the rule of law in the state.

He accused the opposition party of spreading falsehoods and showing open contempt for judicial authority.

“The level of impunity on display by the state APC constitutes a serious threat to our democratic life. The party started by falsifying a Court of Appeal judgment to claim a fake reinstatement of its court-sacked chairmen,” Adeleke said.

The governor maintained that the APC had ignored a valid judgment that affirmed the legality of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmen and councillors across local governments in the state.

“Behaving like political robbers in a lawless country, the state APC got even more emboldened to invade and occupy council secretariats without any legal mandate. They even attempted to claim public funds through another layer of illegality until they were legally stopped,” he added.

Adeleke said the judiciary had intervened to restore order but expressed concern over the APC’s continued disregard for court processes.

“The judiciary has waded in to set the records straight. Unfortunately, the state APC appears so bitter and so bold about its disrespect for the judiciary that it can still be debating a matter now before the highest court in the land,” he noted.

He urged residents to disregard the APC’s “bag of lies,” insisting that NULGE is an independent body that needs no inducement to protect its members’ interests.

“The fight to stop the attempted looting of the local government treasury is a collective effort of all stakeholders who need no inducement to act responsibly. The opposition has come to the end of its game; the people have resisted illegality, and the judiciary will soon make its final pronouncement,” the governor said.

Earlier, the Osun APC had accused Governor Adeleke of financially inducing striking NULGE officials to prolong their eight-month work stoppage.

In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the party alleged that each Head of Local Government Administration in the 69 local councils, including Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), received ₦750,000, while Directors of Administration and Finance were paid ₦500,000 each.

Other directors and NULGE chairmen were said to have received ₦250,000 each, allegedly from the state government, to sustain the strike.

“It is quite strange that a government could go so low to the extent of promoting and funding an illegal work abandonment against itself. This has led to the avoidable suffering of traditional rulers and grassroots dwellers,” Olabisi said.

He further blamed the governor for delays in local government fund disbursements and accused him of shifting blame to the APC and federal agencies.

“Our soothing balm as a party is that this current government is tenured, and it will end by November 27, 2026. The APC will return to restore the lost glory of the state,” he added.

Olabisi also criticised NULGE leaders for allegedly betraying council workers, saying many retirees had been denied their benefits due to the prolonged strike.