2027 polls: Osun NLC threatens protest vote against Tinubu over withheld LG funds

The Organised Labour in Osun State has declared that it can no longer guarantee the support and votes of workers, pensioners and their families for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, citing the continued withholding of statutory allocations by local government councils in the state.

However, the World Institute for Peace has described the three-day warning strike declared by the Osun State chapter of the NLC as politically motivated and capable of triggering civil unrest.

This is just as the Labour Congress threatened to commence the picketing of United Bank for Africa (UBA) branches across the state, stressing that the exercise is aimed at demanding an end to the disputed disbursement of the LG allocation.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council on Monday took its campaign train to Ebonyi State, where party leaders, governors and ministers declared that the state belongs to the party, projecting about 1.3 million votes for President Tinubu in the January 16, 2027 election.

Addressing newsmen on behalf of other unions, in Osogbo, on Monday, the Chairman, NLC, Osun State chapter, Christopher Arapasopo, said the body’s position was informed by the hardship allegedly inflicted on local government workers and pensioners following the non-release of council allocations since February 2025.

He said, “For now, the Organised Labour in Osun State cannot guarantee the support and votes of workers, pensioners, and our families for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“This position arises from the continued withholding of Local Government allocations and the attendant hardship imposed on workers, pensioners and our dependents. We can no longer pretend that we are happy when we are suffering!”

He added that, “The Organised Labour also confirms the peaceful picketing of United Bank for Africa (UBA) branches across Osun State will commence soon.

“The exercise is aimed at demanding an end to the disputed disbursement of Local Government allocations and ensuring that all outstanding funds are released into the appropriate accounts of constitutionally valid Local Government administrations.

“We urge all participating unions and workers to maintain discipline and ensure that the exercise remains peaceful and lawful.”

It would be recalled that NLC had directed its affiliate unions to embark on a three-day sympathy strike following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued over the continued withholding of statutory allocations meant for local government councils in the State.

Addressing newsmen on Monday, the Executive Director of  World Institute for Peace, Lamina Omotoyosi on Monday, accused the labour movement of attempting to intimidate the judiciary and create unnecessary economic hardship for residents of the state.

Reacting to the development, Omotoyosi argued that the ongoing local government allocation crisis was a legal matter that should be resolved through the courts rather than industrial action.

He expressed concern that the strike could undermine the judicial process, insisting that the labour movement should have pursued constructive engagement with all parties involved in the litigations.

He said, “the labour movement should demonstrate a better understanding of the legal issues surrounding the local government crisis rather than resorting to industrial action while the matter remains unresolved in court.

“We have no reservation in concluding that the strike is being embarked upon in bad faith and is politically motivated, with the intention of blackmailing the judiciary and creating a possible atmosphere of anarchy in the polity.”

He however, called on the unions to initiate dialogue with the parties involved in the litigations and consider an out-of-court settlement to resolve the allocation crisis.

Speaking at the APC rally, Governor Francis Nwifuru said Ebonyi’s support for Tinubu is not based on sentiment but rooted in evidence, conviction and gratitude, noting that under the Renewed Hope Agenda the state has received critical federal attention in roads, education and agriculture.

Nwifuru said Tinubu has demonstrated uncommon courage in pursuing reforms for sustainable growth, and has within three and a half years addressed the decades-long challenge of poor road infrastructure in the Southeast, citing the historic 788-kilometre Afikpo-Onueke-Ukwuachi-Abuja Expressway corridor with an over 35-span flyover at Onueke in Ezza South.

He described the project as not merely a road but an economic revolution, a strategic national asset and development corridor designed to unlock the vast economic potential of Ebonyi and neighbouring states, alongside the Obubra-Ofa Road being constructed under the Renewed Hope flagship programme.

The governor thanked Tinubu for appointing Ebonyi’s son, Senator David Umahi, as Minister of Works, and listed his own administration’s achievements since May 29, 2023, including over 1,000 kilometres of roads across the 13 local government areas, two kilometres of roads in each community, urban renewal in Abakaliki, and flyover and tunnel projects.

He said his government has revitalised primary and secondary healthcare, recruited doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare workers, invested in modern equipment, ambulances and health insurance, and started industrialising the state through the new Abakaliki Garment Company, modernisation of the pipe production company and the nearly completed industrial city at Izzi-Ngbo.

Nwifuru added that 43 school buildings comprising 22-classroom blocks with offices, libraries and laboratories have been completed, 314 students on foreign scholarships have completed master’s degrees and are now pursuing PhDs, and two specialised universities, the University of ICT at Oferekpe and the University of Aeronautics and Aerospace Engineering at Ezillo, have been established.

He also listed the reactivated Ikwo farm, housing projects including 140 duplexes at Reward Estate and houses for widows and IDPs, and he passionately appealed to Tinubu to assist Ebonyi, the only state without a 330kV transmission line, by funding or taking over the proposed line from Ugwuaji in Enugu State.

President Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said the administration has returned to seek renewal of its mandate to serve, defend and stand by Ebonyi people, and he listed the Calabar-Ebonyi-Okigwe-Nasarawa-Abuja superhighway, Trans-Saharan Highway, Ebonyi-Cross River bridge, Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja Expressway and Ogoja-Arochukwu-Cross River Road as ongoing works.

Shettima said funding has been set aside for renewable energy projects in eight locations, renovation of housing estates has begun, students are being supported through NELFUND and TETFund, thousands have benefited from Presidential Conditional Grants, and security has improved, with the Army Recruit Training Depot at Amasiri now operational and the South-East Development Commission, South-East Vision 2050 and South-East Investment Company established.

He said Ebonyi now has greater resources because Tinubu increased revenue to states, and he praised Nwifuru’s stewardship while also urging the people to vote APC from top to bottom on January 16, 2027 for Tinubu and on February 6 for Nwifuru and all APC State Assembly candidates.

The Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, said Ebonyi is his own state because of his closeness to Umahi, and he thanked the crowd mobilised for Tinubu, and set a target of a minimum of 1.2 million votes out of 1.8 million registered voters and 1.5 million PVCs collected.

Yari said Tinubu’s appointment of Umahi as Minister of Works and eight ministers from the Southeast justifies the target, and he noted that governors now pay over N50 billion in gratuities and pensions on time because Tinubu gives them their entitlements.

He described the Tinubu government as gender-friendly with about 20 per cent women in his cabinet, 10 women ministers, 13 women special advisers and assistants and 37 women heading federal agencies.

Yari urged youths to come out for Tinubu, citing over N300 billion released under NELFUND and Tinubu’s record of raising Lagos IGR from N600 million in 1999 to over N57 billion before he left office, and over N120 billion today.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma warned that if Tinubu is not re-elected, all ongoing projects will stop, urging voters to sharpen their weapon, their PVCs, vote APC with the broom symbol on January 16, and vote pragmatism and national unity, not sentiment or marginalisation.

APC National Chairman, who was represented by the Deputy National Chairman (South), Dr. Ben Nwoye, urged Ebonyi people to vote APC from top to bottom on January 16 and February 6, citing the Southeast Development Commission and interest-free NELFUND loans as reasons no one can now claim that lack of funds prevented them from going to school.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, declared that there is no other party in Ebonyi, and he thanked Tinubu for his appointment, and listed road projects including the 65km Afikpo-Uturu-Okigwe road at N193 billion, 40 per cent complete, the 123km Afikpo-Ndibe Beach-Izzi-Benue road at N454 billion, the 176km Benue-Enugu-Kogi-Nasarawa road at N684 billion, and the 140km Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja dualisation at N184 billion, assuring that Ebonyi will give Tinubu 1.3 million votes.

On his part, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who is the Director of Mobilisation, said Tinubu has overcome teething problems and is now ready to deliver dividends of reforms, across the country.

He praised Umahi saying the former governor was a minister like no other, and later attacked former Minister Rotimi Amaechi as a serial loser, recalling Amaechi’s court challenge against Atiku, his opposition to his principal and his shutdown of the Rivers judiciary, as signs of a bad leader while also urging Ebonyi people to defeat the opposition through a clean vote.