TINUBU SETS UP COMMITTEE LED BY GBAJABIAMILA TO RESOLVE OSUN LOCAL GOVERNMENT CRISIS

By NaijaParrot October 18, 2026 

 ABUJA, NIGERIA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly established a committee headed by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to develop a framework for resolving the lingering local government crisis in Osun State. The development was disclosed by a senior Osun State Government official, according to a report published by The PUNCH on Sunday. The committee is expected to help the Presidency and the state government find a negotiated solution to the dispute involving the control and administration of local government councils.

According to the report, Tinubu initiated the peace process after Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke visited the Presidential Villa in Abuja following the August 15 governorship election. The official said the President subsequently constituted a small committee under Gbajabiamila to develop a framework for addressing the disagreements between the state government and the All Progressives Congress (APC). The committee is expected to identify the outstanding issues and help both sides work towards a possible settlement. However, the full membership of the committee and the detailed terms of reference were not disclosed in the report. 

 Governor Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, confirmed that the Presidency and the Osun State Government were working towards establishing a negotiation team to resolve the crisis. Rasheed reportedly said discussions had advanced, although he was not directly involved in the negotiations and could not provide the full details of the proposed agreement. He expressed hope that the parties would resolve the dispute before the 2027 general elections. 

 The dispute centres on the legitimacy of rival groups claiming authority over local government councils, the status of council chairmen and councillors, and control of local government administration and funds. According to the Osun State Government official cited in the report, one of the key issues involves APC-backed council officials whose tenure the state government says ended on October 25, 2025, and elected officials who have yet to assume office amid concerns about possible violence. Questions surrounding the management of council funds and transactions carried out by previous council officials are also among the matters requiring attention. These remain contested issues that any proposed settlement would need to address alongside the relevant court proceedings. 

 The report indicated that the proposed framework could pave the way for both sides to pursue an out-of-court settlement. Under that approach, the parties would seek to resolve their disagreements through negotiations and then approach the courts to formalise an agreed resolution, potentially allowing normal local government administration to resume. No final settlement had been announced in the report, and the outcome will depend on the terms accepted by the parties and any necessary legal steps. The Presidency’s intervention represents an effort to address a dispute that has generated political tension, court battles and security concerns in Osun State. 

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