The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun state, Adegboyega Oyetola, has commended the Supreme Court for striking out the suit filed by the Osun state government seeking to compel the Federal Government to release allocations to the sacked PDP-led local government chairmen.
In a 6–1 majority ruling, the apex court held that the suit, filed by the Osun State Attorney General, was incompetent, stating that the state lacked the legal capacity to invoke the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction on behalf of local government councils.
According to a statement issued by Oyetola’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, the Court affirmed that local governments, as autonomous constitutional entities, are the rightful parties to initiate such legal action— not the state government.
Reacting to the judgment, Dr. Oyetola praised the Supreme Court for what he described as “a clear and courageous affirmation of constitutionalism, due process, and the sanctity of democratic institutions.”
He said the ruling is a major victory for democracy and the rule of law, noting that the judgment reinforces the autonomy of local governments and sends a strong message that legal procedures cannot be distorted for partisan purposes.
Dr. Oyetola further stated that the Osun State Government’s attempt to compel the release of funds to officials removed by a valid court judgment amounted to an effort to sidestep legitimate legal outcomes.
He added that the Supreme Court’s decision has restored clarity and order.
He urged the Osun State Government to respect judicial decisions and place the overall interest of the state above partisan considerations, stressing that stable governance can only be achieved when the rule of law is upheld.
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