Politics

Osun ALGON Disowns PDP-Sponsored ‘Impostors’ Over LG Allocations

The Osun State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), under the leadership of Hon. Samuel Idowu Abiodun, has dismissed a press statement issued by a faction it described as “impostors sponsored by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

In a statement made available to journalists on Friday, Abiodun maintained that only the duly elected All Progressives Congress (APC) local government chairmen constitute the legitimate ALGON in Osun, with formal recognition from the National ALGON Secretariat.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we, the duly elected APC local government chairmen in Osun State, are the authentic ALGON, and we remain the only body recognized by the National ALGON Secretariat as well as by the constitution of the Association,” Abiodun said.

He cited a letter of recognition dated March 17, 2025, which he claimed confirmed him as the sole ALGON chairman in the state, and referenced the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Akure delivered on February 10, 2025, which upheld the validity of their elections conducted on October 15, 2022.

Describing the PDP-backed faction as “a creation of propaganda and political sponsorship,” Abiodun accused the state government of promoting illegitimate claims, aided by sections of the media, including Tribune Newspaper.

“It is laughable that the same PDP that has consistently denied local governments in Osun State their constitutional rights to autonomy is now pretending to be a defender of the people’s funds,” he said.

The ALGON chairman also defended the group’s dealings with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), insisting that all transactions were in line with due process and regulatory frameworks. He faulted the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Osun for what he described as turning itself into “a branch of a political party” rather than a professional union.

Abiodun further aligned himself with the position of legal practitioner, Barrister Kunle Adegoke (SAN), who recently spoke on Arise Television, defending the legality of ALGON’s operations in Osun.

He assured residents that his leadership was committed to ensuring transparency, accountability, and unhindered access to federal allocations by local governments in the state, free from alleged manipulations by the state government.

“We remain the only lawful ALGON in Osun State, duly recognized at the national level. We have complied with all statutory requirements in partnership with relevant agencies of government. No amount of propaganda or impersonation will erase the truth of our legitimacy,” Abiodun stressed.