The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria under the platform of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State has declared that it has assumed full control of the state’s local government councils and their financial allocations.

The Osun APC-led ALGON Chairman, Samuel Abiodun Idowu, made the claim while addressing members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun Correspondents’ Chapel, in Osogbo.

He insisted that there are no legal obstacles to the reinstatement and effective functioning of the councils as the third tier of government.

Idowu said residents at the grassroots would begin to see tangible improvements from next year, as plans are underway to roll out programmes aimed at improving livelihoods across the councils.

The reinstated Chairman of Ifedayo Local Council said the recent Supreme Court judgment that resolved the protracted local government crisis favoured his faction.

According to him, the councils had already been accessing funds to pay salaries and are now in charge of full statutory allocations.

He commended the media for what he described as balanced reporting of the controversies surrounding local government administration in the state, adding that normal activities would fully resume in early 2026.

Idowu also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for facilitating local government autonomy, stressing that effective implementation of the Supreme Court ruling is critical to good governance at the grassroots.

He maintained that the judgment was definitive and left no room for contrary interpretations, describing any challenge to it as uninformed.

He added that the ALGON leadership in Osun is unified and fully prepared to drive development in towns and villages across the state.

The ALGON chairman further disclosed that the association has approached the Federal High Court in Osogbo to seek clarity on the tenure of council chairmen elected during the administration of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola.

While awaiting the court’s decision, he said his group believes the tenure commenced on February 10, 2025.

He also claimed to have an official letter from the national leadership of ALGON recognising him as the sole chairman of the association in Osun State, dismissing any rival claims to the position.

The Kano State House of Assembly has been thrown into mourning following the death of two serving lawmakers within hours of each other on Wednesday.

The deceased legislators are Hon. Aminu Saad Ungogo, who represented Ungogo Constituency, and Hon. Sarki Aliyu Daneji, the lawmaker for Kano Municipal Constituency.

Ungogo’s death was first made public by the Special Adviser to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Information, Ibrahim Adam.

In a message shared on his verified Facebook page, Adam prayed for the repose of the lawmaker’s soul, announcing his passing to the public.

Less than an hour later, the death of Daneji was confirmed by the Director of Media at the Kano Government House, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.

He disclosed the development in a Facebook post, noting that Daneji died shortly after the announcement of Ungogo’s death.

As of the time of filing this report, details surrounding the circumstances of both deaths remained unclear.

After an 83-day delay, the Edo State House of Assembly has confirmed Hon. Chris Ewere Okaeben as a commissioner.

Okaeben was initially nominated by Governor Monday Okpebholo alongside six other commissioner-designates and forwarded to the House for screening and confirmation.

While six of the nominees were screened and approved on September 30, Okaeben’s confirmation was put on hold following an alleged petition against him before the Department of State Services.

At the time, Speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku, explained that the Assembly would proceed with Okaeben’s confirmation once he had been cleared by the DSS.

Subsequently, on December 23, Governor Okpebholo formally requested the Assembly to conclude Okaeben’s screening process.

The request was conveyed in a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor, and addressed to the Speaker.

Acting on the governor’s request, lawmakers resumed the screening exercise and confirmed Okaeben as the 27th commissioner in the state.

It was also recalled that Okaeben was among 14 members-elect of the Edo State House of Assembly who were not inaugurated by the immediate past governor, Godwin Obaseki, on July 17, 2019.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to stop what he described as delays and immediately enforce the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local government councils.

The Supreme Court, in July 2024, ruled in favour of local government financial independence in a case filed by the Federal Government.

In a unanimous decision, the court declared it unconstitutional for state governments to control or retain funds meant for local councils and faulted the use of caretaker committees, saying it undermines the autonomy guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.

Speaking at the All Progressives Congress National Executive Committee meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja at the weekend, President Tinubu had called on governors to comply with the ruling.

He also warned that he could issue an Executive Order to ensure direct allocation of funds to local governments if the verdict was not honoured.

Reacting to the President’s comments, Atiku accused Tinubu of politicising a clear judicial decision rather than enforcing it.

In a statement shared on social media, the former vice president said there was no justification for threats or ultimatums, insisting that the ruling should already be in force.

According to Atiku, the President only needs to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation to enforce the judgment without delay, adding that failure to do so amounts to a dereliction of constitutional responsibility.

He further alleged that the delay in implementing the ruling was a calculated attempt to use compliance with the law as leverage to pressure opposition governors into joining the ruling APC, while also tightening control over governors within the party.

Atiku warned that continued inaction would erode constitutional governance and undermine public confidence in leadership, stressing that Supreme Court judgments are final and must be obeyed.

He concluded that Nigerians would ultimately judge leaders who place political advantage above constitutional duty and economic justice.

Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party are reconsidering the reconciliation framework earlier proposed by former Senate President Bukola Saraki as efforts intensify to end the internal crisis threatening the party’s cohesion.

Party sources told DAILY GAZETTE that the renewed interest in the Saraki approach followed the Independent National Electoral Commission’s refusal to recognise the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee.

INEC, in a letter dated December 22 and addressed to the party’s legal representatives, said it could not acknowledge the Turaki-led NWC because the matter is still before the courts.

The electoral body explained that it would not take any administrative action that could prejudice the outcome of the ongoing legal proceedings.

The Turaki-led NWC enjoys the backing of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed.

It emerged from the controversial national convention held in Ibadan in November, which was preceded by conflicting court orders.

While some Federal High Courts in Abuja restrained the party from holding the convention, an Oyo State High Court cleared it and directed INEC to monitor the process.

A rival faction, opposed to the Ibadan convention and led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, later announced a parallel NWC, Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee.

Both factions have since announced expulsions of key figures, further widening the rift within the party.

INEC recently convened a meeting involving the two factions in a bid to resolve the crisis, particularly as preparations commence for the 2026 FCT area council elections.

Against this background, party leaders are said to be increasingly uncomfortable with allowing the courts alone to determine the outcome of the dispute, fearing that judicial rulings could deepen divisions by producing clear winners and losers.

A senior party source said the leadership is leaning towards reviving the Saraki reconciliation model, which emphasises dialogue and internal resolution rather than prolonged litigation.

According to the source, Saraki and other party elders have already begun quiet engagements aimed at restoring unity.

Saraki, who previously chaired the party’s reconciliation committee, had warned against excessive reliance on court processes, cautioning that prolonged legal battles could stall the party’s progress and weaken its chances ahead of future elections.

He had also advocated an inclusive national convention to address lingering disputes and reposition the party.

On the prospects for reconciliation, the Turaki-led faction said it remains open to dialogue but insisted that all parties must recognise the legality of the Ibadan convention.

The Wike-led faction, however, maintained that any reconciliation effort must begin with an acknowledgment that the Ibadan convention was flawed.

Political analyst Professor Abubakar Kari of the University of Abuja described the renewed reconciliation push as late but still viable, provided both sides are willing to compromise.

He warned that the prolonged crisis has already cost the party valuable time and momentum, especially with the approach of key political activities in 2026.

However, he noted that political fortunes can change rapidly and that the PDP could still recover if it resolves its internal disputes and presents a strong electoral platform.

An FCT High Court has granted interim bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), in a case involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Bello Kawu granted the application on Tuesday in a motion filed by Malami’s legal team and marked M/17220/2025.

The court ordered that the bail be granted on the same terms earlier considered by the EFCC, including the surrender of Malami’s international passport and the execution of bail bonds by two sureties.

According to a statement by Malami’s counsel, Bello Doka, the court further directed that the sureties must include the Director-General of the Nigerian Legal Aid Council and a serving member of the House of Representatives representing the Augie/Argungu Federal Constituency.

The judge also reviewed and reactivated bail conditions earlier fulfilled on November 28, 2025, which required the provision of two sureties and the surrender of the applicant’s international passport.

Justice Kawu held that the interim bail was granted on grounds of exceptional hardship, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion on notice.

The court fixed January 5, 2026, for the hearing of the motion on notice.

Malami was arrested by the EFCC on December 8 over allegations bordering on terrorism financing, duplication of legal representation in the recovery of the $322.5 million Abacha loot, and issues related to the conditional cash transfer of recovered funds, among other allegations.