Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has accused the federal government of deliberately withholding local government allocations meant for the state due to political differences.

Speaking through his deputy, Kola Adeusi, at a two-day Southwest Summit on Democracy and Federalism in Ondo State, Adeleke said Osun has been subjected to “politically-motivated marginalisation” by the federal authorities since he assumed office in 2022.

He alleged that funds designated for local government administration in the state were seized without legal justification, describing the situation as a violation of constitutional provisions on financial autonomy and inter-governmental cooperation.

“There is an ongoing wilful breach of the constitution to deprive a sub-national entity of its due rights simply because it does not belong to the same party with the ruling party at the centre,” Adeleke said.

The governor claimed that several federal programmes and projects intended for Osun have been rerouted through political party structures rather than official state institutions, adding that the development has weakened governance delivery at the grassroots level.

Adeleke further alleged that some political actors in Abuja have frustrated efforts to rehabilitate federal roads and revive abandoned federal projects within the state. He also accused federal security agencies of shielding members of the ruling party in cases of alleged misconduct, while using security institutions to intimidate officials of the state government.

“In Osun today, federal party officials boast of powers to deploy security apparatus to witch-hunt state officials,” he said.

Despite the challenges, the governor said his administration has recorded improvements across key sectors including health, education, and debt management. According to him, Osun now ranks highest in the Southwest in access to primary healthcare and has reduced its debt burden by more than 40 percent.

He called on leaders in the Southwest to prioritise regional development over partisan rivalry, advocating for a circular cargo railway, development of dry ports, and stronger support for the regional security outfit, Amotekun.

“The south-west must elevate power applications beyond partisan considerations,” he said. “We must never deploy federal power against ourselves, no matter our political differences.”

Backlash has trailed the presence of Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), at the 2025 Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), alongside his two sons.

The summit, which commenced on Monday, is scheduled to end today. It is organised by the Brisbane City Council in Australia to strengthen city-to-city partnerships and promote business and governance collaboration.

Wike departed Abuja for Dubai on Monday in company of senior officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) including Richard Dauda, acting executive secretary of the federal capital development authority (FCDA); Benedict Daudu, senior special assistant on legal and multilateral cooperation; Mukhtar Galadima, director of development and control; Chuks Udeh, director of engineering services; and Sani Daura, director of protocol.

Also seen with him at the event were his sons, Joaquin and Jordan.

The minister participated in a panel session titled: “From data-rich to data-smart: Unlocking urban intelligence for the next generation of cities.”

On Tuesday, Lere Olayinka, media aide to the minister, shared images of Wike and his children at the summit, captioning them:

“When e reach your turn, carry your enemies travel. Hissssssssssssh.”

The development sparked reactions from Nigerians on social media, with many accusing the minister of using public resources to sponsor his children on official trips.

This is not the first time Wike has faced criticism regarding his sons. In July 2025, he denied allegations that he allocated plots of land in Maitama and Asokoro to them.

Below are some reactions:

“Nigeria is quietly sliding into a political monarchy…” — @Mimi_yakigar

“Wike is doing what Tinubu started.” — @AishaYesufu

“Dem go serve father, dem go serve sons.” — @ibkzzle0

“New taxes so Wike can fly his children abroad for pointless engagements.” — @AnotherAnowa

Wike has not responded to the latest criticism as of press time.

Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has threatened to institute legal action against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if the party prevents him from purchasing the nomination form for the national chairmanship position ahead of its forthcoming national convention.

Lamido, one of the founding members of the PDP, visited the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Monday to obtain the nomination form but said he was told by officials that they were unaware of its availability.

According to the former governor, both Samuel Anyanwu, the party’s national secretary, and Umar Bature, the national organising secretary, said they had “no information” about the forms or their sale.

“I went to the office of the national organising secretary, which is normally where the forms are sold, and the office was locked,” Lamido told journalists at the PDP headquarters.

“I met him with the secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and both of them said they had no idea where the forms were or even how they were printed. So, I found it a little weird that the custodian of the system is also being locked out.”

Lamido expressed dissatisfaction with the development, describing it as “unacceptable” for a party that claims to uphold internal democracy. He maintained that as a founding member, he has every right to take part in the PDP’s internal leadership selection process.

The former governor warned that he would not hesitate to approach the courts to enforce his right if the situation remains unresolved.

Reports later emerged that the chairmanship nomination forms were being controlled by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, who also serves as the chairman of the party’s National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC).

Lamido’s complaint comes amid growing tension within the PDP over preparations for its national convention, where new national officers are expected to emerge.