The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun, has dismissed as “misleading and politically motivated” the allegations levelled against the Assembly by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State over the passage of the Local Government Amendment Number 2 Bill, 2026.
The APC had accused the Assembly of attempting to undermine the recent Supreme Court judgement granting autonomy to local governments.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Olamide Tiamiyu, Egbedun maintained that the claim was unfounded and borne out of what he described as desperation.
“We have the mandate of the people of Osun State to legislate. That responsibility cannot and will not be surrendered because of partisan pressure,” the Speaker said.
“Our duty is to ensure peace, order and good governance, and that includes strengthening accountability mechanisms where necessary.”
Egbedun clarified that the Supreme Court judgement does not invalidate the constitutional powers of state legislatures over local government administration.
“The Supreme Court judgement does not erase Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution. That section expressly empowers state Houses of Assembly to make laws for the proper administration of local governments. Autonomy does not translate into absence of legislative oversight,” he said.
According to him, the amendment was designed to promote transparency and prevent administrative errors in the handling of public funds at the grassroots, not to seize control of local government finances.
The Speaker described the APC’s condemnation of the bill as premature and unnecessary, arguing that the opposition had failed to properly examine the provisions of the amendment before issuing its statement.
“It is surprising that they have not even seen the specific column that was amended or taken time to understand the purpose behind it, yet they rushed to the press with sweeping accusations. That approach reflects a lack of adequate knowledge and due diligence,” he said.
Egbedun further suggested that the reaction of the opposition party raised concerns about its true intentions,. adding that: “Their outburst only exposes desperation and a tendency to politicise every legislative effort.”
“Instead of constructive engagement, they have chosen sensationalism. It makes one wonder whether the real fear is the prevention of any opportunity to misappropriate public funds.”
He urged the APC to exercise restraint, thoroughly study the contents of the amendment, and always approach the House of Assembly for clarification on any grey areas observed in laws passed by the legislature rather than resorting to public speculation.
“Opposition is an essential part of democracy, but it must be responsible and informed. We advise them to desist from making statements without adequate knowledge of the issues at hand. Where there are concerns or ambiguities, the proper step is to seek clarification from the House in the interest of truth and the people of Osun State,” Egbedun added.
Reaffirming the Assembly’s position, the Speaker said lawmakers would continue to discharge their constitutional duties without intimidation.
“We are guided by the Constitution, not political noise. We were elected to serve the people, not to trade insults. Our focus remains protecting public resources and ensuring that local government administration operates within the ambit of the law,” he concluded.
