Ogun PDP condemns Governor Dapo Abiodun’s Christmas gift of SUVs to LG chairmen, describing it as a brazen affront to local government autonomy
PDP Blasts Abiodun Over Christmas SUV Gifts to LG Chairmen, Calls It ‘Treacherous Assault on Local Government Autonomy’
The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly condemned Governor Dapo Abiodun’s Christmas gift of 20 Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to Local Government Council Chairmen, describing the gesture as a treacherous misplacement of priorities and a direct assault on local government autonomy.
The opposition party said the move represents a brazen affront to transparent local government administration, accusing the governor and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of engaging in transactional politics at the expense of grassroots development.
In a statement issued on Friday, December 25, 2025, and made available to NewsHeadline247, the Ogun State PDP Publicity Secretary, Otunba Arc. Kayode Adebayo, described the SUV gift as suspicious and morally indefensible.
According to Adebayo, the gesture “smells of quid pro quo,” alleging that luxury vehicles were being traded for loyalty, silence, and the surrender of constitutionally guaranteed financial autonomy by elected local government chairmen.
“This is a classic case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. It erodes local government autonomy, stifles grassroots democracy, and cripples productivity at the third tier of government,” the PDP said.
Adebayo dismissed Governor Abiodun’s claim that the SUVs would boost local government performance, describing it as a weak, misleading, and insulting justification aimed at deceiving the public.
“Mr Abiodun and the council executives must be told in clear terms that it is full autonomy, not luxury SUVs, that guarantees effective governance at the local government level,” he stated.
The PDP further accused the Abiodun administration of profligacy, noting that the gesture fits into what it described as a pattern of financial recklessness and misplaced priorities under the current government.
The party lamented that while Ogun State grapples with collapsed roads, worsening insecurity, neglected schools, failing healthcare centres, and decaying infrastructure, the governor appears more interested in purchasing vehicles for political appeasement.
“Local governments are being incapacitated as statutory funds are siphoned or indirectly exchanged for SUVs. Meanwhile, roads have become death traps, schools are abandoned, and healthcare facilities are crumbling,” the statement added.
The PDP also recalled repeated pronouncements by the President and the judiciary affirming the constitutional guarantee of local government autonomy, arguing that Ogun State remains an exception due to what it described as Governor Abiodun’s disregard for the law.
Describing the governor as the state’s “Chief Security Officer,” the party alleged that he believes himself to be above constitutional provisions, choosing instead to buy the loyalty of council chairmen rather than improve the welfare of citizens.
The opposition party further raised critical constitutional questions, including whether the SUVs were meant to serve as official vehicles for the chairmen and whether the governor is legally empowered to provide official cars for elected local government officials.
“These are germane questions that Mr Abiodun and his rudderless APC must answer before embarking on this treacherous voyage of misplaced priorities,” the PDP said.
Calling on Ogun residents to remain vigilant, the party urged citizens to see through what it described as the APC government’s sinister ploy against local government autonomy.
“Autonomy is no longer a privilege; it is a constitutional imperative. With Mr Abiodun’s uninspiring administration having less than 18 months to expire, it is evident that he intends to leave Ogun State—and its local governments—in shambles and shackled by inefficiency,” the statement concluded.
