Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has cautioned the Nigeria Police Force against accepting vehicles from local government chairmen elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the proposed donation as potentially harmful and politically motivated.

In a statement issued on Friday in Osogbo, the state government characterised the planned donation as a “poisoned gift with malicious, mischievous, and harmful intentions,” warning that it could undermine the neutrality and credibility of the police.

The statement, signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, questioned the legitimacy of the APC-backed local government chairmen currently in control of council administrations.

According to Alimi, the officials lack legal backing as the dispute over their tenure remains before the courts. He argued that any form of support from such individuals to security agencies could send the wrong signal to the public and erode confidence in law enforcement.

The warning follows an announcement by the APC in Osun that its council chairmen plan to donate operational vehicles to the police to enhance security across the state. The party, through its spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, defended the initiative and criticised the state government’s opposition.

The APC maintained that security interventions should not be politicised, stressing that logistical support for the police is essential to addressing security challenges and safeguarding lives and property.

However, the state government rejected the argument, accusing the opposition of politicising security matters. It warned that accepting such donations could create perceptions of bias within the police.

The government also noted that the legal dispute over control of local government councils is yet to be resolved, with court rulings expected on May 12 and May 21, 2026.

It called on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene and direct officers in the state to decline the vehicles pending a final judicial determination.

The crisis over local government administration in Osun has persisted for months, stemming from competing claims between chairmen elected during the February 22, 2025 polls conducted under Governor Adeleke and those elected on October 15, 2022, during the administration of former governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

Although APC-backed chairmen currently control the councils, the matter remains sub judice, with both sides seeking judicial recognition.