Federal Government using state institutions to weaken opposition in Osun – ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu of pursuing a win-at-all-costs approach to politics, warning that it poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy and national stability.

In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party alleged that the Federal Government was using state institutions to weaken the opposition ahead of the Osun State governorship election.

The ADC condemned the freezing of statutory allocations to local governments in Osun State, describing the action as political terrorism aimed at undermining the state government.

According to the party, withholding the funds would affect workers’ salaries, primary healthcare services, education, and other essential services relied upon by residents.

The ADC said President Tinubu’s approach to politics treats political contests as warfare, arguing that such a mindset has no place in a democratic society.

“No democracy worthy of the name deliberately sacrifices the welfare of innocent citizens in pursuit of partisan political ends. The salaries of workers, the operation of primary healthcare centres, the education of children, rural infrastructure and other essential public services have all been turned into bargaining chips in President Tinubu’s political contest,” the statement said.

The party further alleged that the freezing of local government funds was part of a wider effort to destabilise Osun State.

It claimed that unelected APC loyalists had continued to occupy local government councils, while opposition figures had allegedly been subjected to arrest and intimidation.

The ADC also alleged that hoodlums linked to the APC had been allowed to intimidate political opponents, accusing security agencies of failing to act.

“Political opponents are not enemy combatants. Opposition-controlled states are not occupied territories. Public institutions do not belong to whichever party temporarily controls the federal government,” the party stated.

The ADC called for the immediate restoration of statutory allocations to Osun State’s local governments and urged the Federal Government to end what it described as the intimidation of the state.

It added that the people of Osun should be allowed to freely choose their leaders without political interference.

“What the people of Osun deserve is the democratic right to freely choose who governs them. But right now, they have been placed under a siege. This has to stop.”