The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, in Osun State has broken into two factions over Thursday’s ruling by the appeal court on the controversial 2022 council polls with them holding conflicting interpretations.
While one faction supports the interpretation by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the other faction backs the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC
In fact,one faction hailed the verdict as a final blow to APC’s legal efforts, while the other faction said the ruling did not affect the status of the APC-elected chairmen and councillors.
The judgment, delivered on June 13 by the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, dismissed the APC’s application to relist its previously struck-out appeal over the legality of the October 15, 2022, local government elections conducted by the former Governor Gboyega Oyetola administration
In a statement on Friday, the ALGON faction led by Hon. Sarafadeen Awotunde, aligned with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), hailed the judgment as a final blow to APC’s legal efforts.
Awotunde said the verdict had effectively settled all disputes over the 2022 elections and validated the February 22, 2025, local government elections that brought in new officials under the current PDP-led administration.
“The judgment has further affirmed the nullity of the October 15, 2022, elections conducted by the previous administration,” Awotunde stated. “The APC and its so-called Yes/No chairmen must now accept their fate.”
Quoting the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Obiorah, he said the court refused the APC’s attempt to “resurrect” a dismissed appeal, warning against judicial manipulation.
Awotunde also praised Governor Ademola Adeleke for his calm and lawful approach amid what he called attempts by the opposition to destabilize the state.
“We cannot continue to risk lives and property over local government control. The Appeal Court has spoken, and the rule of law has prevailed,” he added.
However, the rival ALGON faction led by Hon. Abiodun Idowu, aligned with the APC, offered a sharply contrasting interpretation of the same judgment.
In a separate statement, Idowu insisted that the Court of Appeal’s ruling had no bearing on the status of the APC-elected chairmen and councillors. He argued that the judgment merely denied APC’s request to relist a dismissed appeal and did not overturn the February 10, 2025, High Court ruling that reinstated the APC officials.
“Today’s ruling only addressed our application to relist a dismissed appeal. It does not affect the February 10 judgment, which remains valid unless set aside by the Supreme Court,” he stated
Idowu accused the PDP and the state government of deliberate misinformation aimed at undermining local government authority. He urged APC-elected officials to remain calm and continue their duties, assuring them that security agencies had been alerted to possible provocations.
“There is no vacancy in the local government administration,” he declared. “We remain the legally recognized authority across the 30 local government areas and area office in Osun.”
Idowu reaffirmed ALGON’s commitment to grassroots governance and vowed to continue delivering services while protecting the lives and property of Osun residents.
