The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a fresh warning to Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration over what it described as the alleged victimisation of local government workers based on their political affiliations.
The party accused the state government of subjecting some council employees to investigations and disciplinary proceedings because of their alleged support for the APC during the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
Politics Nigeria gathered that the allegations were contained in a statement signed by the APC Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi.
According to the party, a committee had been constituted by the Osun State Local Government Service Commission to investigate some workers suspected of having supported the opposition during the election.
The APC alleged that the committee is chaired by Tunji Adeleke Jnr, whom the party identified as the governor’s nephew and chairman of the Local Government Service Commission.
The party claimed that some local government workers had already been summoned before an investigative and disciplinary panel at the commission’s premises in the Osun State Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo.
It further alleged that the workers were questioned about their political activities and contacts before and during the election.
The APC also raised concerns over the alleged examination of the workers’ mobile phones.
According to the opposition party, some workers were reportedly directed to submit their phones for scrutiny, with their messages and communications allegedly examined for links to APC members and supporters.
The party claimed that the investigation had also extended to workers’ banking activities.
It alleged that some employees were questioned about their bank accounts and transactions, particularly those involving United Bank for Africa (UBA), amid the continuing dispute over local government funds in the state.
The APC described the alleged actions as an attempt to monitor the political choices of public servants.
“It is inhuman, barbaric, unconstitutional for you to victimise and dehumanise LG workers on their political affiliation,” the party said.
The APC argued that local government employees should not be punished because of the political party they support or the candidate they voted for during an election.
It also 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 had faced threats of suspension, dismissal or other disciplinary actions as a result of their perceived political leanings.
It further alleged that the salary accounts of some local government employees had been deactivated.
The APC therefore called on Governor Adeleke to immediately restore the affected accounts and ensure that the workers receive their salaries.
“We urge Governor Adeleke to immediately reactivate all the local government staff accounts that have been deactivated for salary payment and put a stop to this sadistic approach to governance,” the statement said.
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.
Recall in January 2026, Governor Adeleke called for the release of more than N130 billion in local government allocations which his administration said had been withheld.
The governor argued that the continued dispute over the councils was affecting grassroots administration and the welfare of workers.
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 said his administration had continued to pay local government workers despite what he described as the withholding of local government funds.
He also said the state had implemented a new minimum wage and had taken steps to address inherited salary and pension liabilities.
The APC, however, has continued to challenge the government’s handling of the local government system.
In May, the Association of Concerned Local Government Workers alleged that more than 400 local government employees had been suspended or removed from the state payroll after resuming work with APC-backed local government officials.
The association made the allegation during its 2026 Workers’ Day activities in Osun.
The association also claimed that the prolonged council crisis had taken a toll on workers across the state.
Nevertheless, as of the time of filing this report, the Osun State Government and its spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, had not publicly responded to the latest allegations by the APC.
