ALGON chair defends continued stay of reinstated LG executives
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has criticised the economic blueprint unveiled by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Oyebamiji.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Osun, Abiodun Idowu, has explained why reinstated local council executives remain in office despite the statutory expiration of their tenure in October 2025.

While defending his administration’s policies, Governor Adeleke also warned that the APC proposals could undermine recent economic reforms in the state.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, yesterday in Osogbo, the governor said an assessment of Oyebamiji’s document showed policy directions that differ sharply from the development framework being implemented by his administration.

The statement reads: “The Adeleke administration’s strategy is anchored on local content utilisation, grassroots empowerment and reduced tax burdens, while the opposition blueprint allegedly promotes policies that may encourage capital movement outside the state.

“Our approach is designed to ensure Osun resources directly benefit Osun residents.”

The governor outlined “ongoing initiatives, including artisan and cooperative financing programmes valued at nearly N4 billion, enforcement of local content policies in procurement, and the revitalisation of the Osun Digital Economy Hub to boost participation in the global technology sector”.

It added that “reforms in tax harmonisation and digitisation have improved internally generated revenue, while the revival of free trade zones and agro-mechanisation programmes has repositioned the state for industrial growth and agricultural expansion”.

SPEAKING with newsmen yesterday, Idowu insisted that their continued occupancy of office is supported by law and ongoing legal proceedings at the Federal High Court in Osogbo, where they have sought judicial clarification on the status and duration of their tenure.

The council executives with APC leaning were elected in October 2022 but were later removed following a Federal High Court ruling.

Governor Adeleke subsequently sacked them through an Executive Order in November, citing the court’s verdict.

However, the Court of Appeal reportedly reinstated the executives on February 10, 2025, after which they resumed control of the councils.

The appellate court’s decision, Idowu noted, has not been challenged at the Supreme Court.

He explained that although their tenure would ordinarily expire in October 2025, it was interrupted for more than two years by the governor’s action, and that the reinstatement effectively reset the tenure timeline.

According to Idowu, who also serves as Chairman of Ifedayo Local Council, the executives are not seeking tenure extension but a legal determination of when their term should properly end.

“We are currently in court. We are not asking for tenure elongation; we have been correcting that impression.

What we want is tenure determination. We are not begging for any extension but for the court to determine whether our tenure ends in October or not, since we effectively resumed office on February 10, 2025,” he said.