The Osun State Government has directed the Nigerian Police to reject security vehicles offered by local government chairmen elected under the All Progressives Congress, APC. According to the state's Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, these chairmen lack legal authority to govern, as their tenure is currently under judicial review. Speaking in Osogbo on Friday, Alimi described the proposed donation as a "poisoned gift with malicious, mischievous, and harmful intentions." He urged the police to preserve its integrity by refusing the offer.
The warning follows an APC statement announcing that its elected LG chairmen would donate operational vehicles to boost policing. Spokesperson Kola Olabisi said security should not be politicised and that logistical support is vital to combat crime. The Osun government dismissed this, accusing the APC of exploiting security for political gain. It emphasized that the legitimacy of the chairmen will be determined by court rulings scheduled for May 12 and May 21, 2026. The government called on Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Ridwan Disu to instruct officers in Osun to decline the vehicles until the legal disputes are resolved.
A government warning security agencies not to take vehicles from rival politicians reveals how deeply contested legitimacy has become in Osun's local councils. Kolapo Alimi's "poisoned gift" framing suggests the state sees the APC's donation not as support for policing, but as an attempt to build parallel authority. With court judgments over the chairmen's status still two years away, this standoff entrenches uncertainty over who truly controls local governance. For residents, it means security efforts may continue to be shaped more by legal battles than by operational needs.
