The political atmosphere in Osun State has become increasingly tense as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) trade serious accusations over the control of local government councils and alleged attempts to influence the judiciary.

On Wednesday, the Osun PDP accused the APC of blackmailing the judiciary in its bid to maintain control over local government councils. In a statement signed by Hezekiah Olabamiji, the PDP's Director of Media and Publicity, the party alleged that the APC has been deliberately misleading the public regarding recent court judgments.

"The accusations from the APC are lies from the pit of hell. There is no judgment reinstating the sacked chairmen, and the judgment of the Federal High Court sacking them still stands," Olabamiji stated, urging the judiciary to remain firm against what the PDP described as repeated blackmail from the opposition party.

The PDP further warned that the "illegal occupation" of local government secretariats by APC officials was coming to an end, expressing confidence in the judiciary's independence while suggesting that APC leaders could face contempt charges.

In a swift response on Thursday, the APC, through its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, countered these allegations. The party claimed that the state government had attempted to mislead the judiciary through an ex-parte motion seeking to restrain federal institutions from releasing funds to the reinstated local government officials.

"The court sensing bait planted in the reliefs sought hurriedly shunned all the reliefs. It is clear that the PDP-led government is attempting a judicial coup," Olabisi stated.

According to the APC, the court did not grant any of the reliefs sought by the Osun State Government but instead ordered all parties to maintain the status quo until the matter is heard on June 4, 2025. The party provided details of the court proceedings, quoting the interim order which directed that all applications be served within seven days.

The dispute centers on competing interpretations of court decisions. The PDP maintains that a Federal High Court judgment invalidated the APC-led local government administration, while the APC claims an earlier Appeal Court decision from February 10, 2025, affirmed their officials' positions.

The APC also accused the state government of attempting to obtain court orders without involving necessary parties and suggested it was searching for pliable judges—allegations the PDP had already dismissed as defamatory and baseless.

This ongoing battle for control of local government councils has become a significant flashpoint in Osun State's political landscape, with both parties firmly entrenched in their positions and relying on different legal interpretations to support their claims.