The Progressives Governors’ Forum, PGF, has called for transparent and coordinated management of party congresses and the forthcoming national convention.

Chairman of the Forum and Imo Governor, Hope Uzodimma, made the call while presenting a communiqué after a meeting with APC leadership in Abuja on Wednesday.

Uzodimma said transparency, consistency and accountability must guide every stage to strengthen trust and credibility within the party.

He said: “These standards must apply uniformly across all states, including where the party currently has no governors.

“The PGF reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to party unity and internal harmony.”

He stressed responsible leadership, clear communication and collective discipline as essential to strengthening public confidence in the party’s democratic processes.

The governor reaffirmed PGF’s commitment to deepening internal democracy, strengthening party structures and advancing reforms promoting transparency, accountability and inclusiveness nationwide.

He said the governors welcomed a briefing on the national e-registration and digital membership update by the APC national chairman.

“This has recorded significant growth, increased youth participation and integration of the National Identity Number,” he stated.

Uzodimma noted the initiative would enhance data-driven planning, improve demographic insights and strengthen grassroots engagement across communities.

He said the governors endorsed the timetable and institutional framework approved by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) for upcoming congresses and the convention.

He commended the party leadership under National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, for guiding the process.

Uzodimma also confirmed strategic engagements and state visits to reinforce grassroots structures and party cohesion.

He said visits would begin in Taraba on Jan. 31 and formally welcomed the governors of Taraba and Plateau into the Forum.

He reaffirmed resolve to partner with APC leadership to advance national development, democratic consolidation and people-centred governance.

Uzodimma said the governors appreciated President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, saying, “We will continue to partner with him to ensure good governance at all levels.”

The dispute over local government administration in Osun State escalated on Wednesday as the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, the state government and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, dismissed claims by the All Progressives Congress, APC, that its sacked council chairmen still had a right to remain in office.

In separate statements issued in Osogbo, the PDP and the state government said recent actions and court developments showed that the APC’s position on the councils lacked legal backing.

The state governor, Ademola Adeleke restated his accusation against Blue Economy Minister, Adegboyega Oyetola and his alleged the masterminding of Osun local government crisis

Governor Adeleke asserted that the self-awarded tenure of APC Chairmen lapsed in 2025 and cannot be elongated under the law and Supreme Court precedents.

Governor Adeleke in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed faulted the entire submission of the minister on the local government crisis, positing that the former Governor remains the chief architect of the paralysis and the untold hardship being inflicted on Osun people.

He said, “Under what authority is Mr Oyetola and his cronies in the guise of council chairmen disbursing funds meant for salaries of local government workers. Under what authority is he deciding who gets paid or not? Why are they not paying salaries of local health workers, local teachers and local retirees?”

The governor also called on the Minister to stop dragging President Bola Tinubu’s name in the mud.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Government also drew attention to proceedings at the Federal High Court in Osogbo concerning a suit filed by the APC on the issue of council tenure.

The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, in a statement said the case, which came up for hearing on Wednesday, was adjourned to March 4, 2026, following the absence of APC lawyers in court.

According to Alimi, “none of the legal representatives listed by the APC, including three Senior Advocates of Nigeria, appeared when the matter was called.

“The election conducted on October 15, 2022 was nullified by the Federal High Court because it violated the Electoral Act.”

He added that subsequent judgments had not reinstated the APC chairmen, contrary to claims by the party.

Alimi said “the government was concerned that the APC continued to rely on a pending court case to justify remaining in council offices.

“They filed a suit and are yet to diligently pursue it, yet they claim it is the basis for their continued stay in the secretariats.”

The commissioner also accused the APC of misrepresenting the status of local government finances, saying questions remained over the handling of allocations during the period of dispute.

The PDP, reacting to a press conference addressed by the Osun APC leadership, said the opposition party was attempting to justify an expired and unlawful occupation of council secretariats across the state.

In a statement signed by its state chairman, Sunday Bisi, the PDP maintained that the APC chairmen had no valid mandate from the outset and insisted that their election had been nullified by the courts before Governor Ademola Adeleke assumed office.

“Governor Ademola Adeleke did not sack any local government officials. The courts invalidated an election that was conducted in breach of the Electoral Act,” the party said.

The PDP argued that local government funds were being contested because of ongoing legal disputes arising from the 2022 council election conducted under the previous APC administration.

It added that the governor, as the state’s chief executive, had a constitutional duty to safeguard public funds meant for grassroots development pending the resolution of the legal issues.

The PDP called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene by urging party members in Osun to respect court decisions and allow due process to run its course.

“The situation in Osun requires adherence to the rule of law to prevent further tension at the grassroots,” the party said.

Reacting, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Wednesday accused Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, of lying against his predecessor on issues relating to the current impasse in the local government administration in Osun.

Akinola, in a statement issued in response to allegations by Adeleke, who had alleged that Oyetola was backing illegal occupation of council areas in the state, stated that Adeleke was using propaganda, falsehood and deliberate misinformation to conceal his administrative failure and disregard for judicial authority.

Referring to Adeleke’s earlier claim that Oyetola was using his influence to withhold funds due to the local government areas in the state, Akinola described the claims as “nothing more than a desperate attempt to deflect attention from his glaring incompetence and serial abuse of the judicial process.”

He insisted that Oyetola was not responsible for any disruption in local government financing in Osun, adding that, “if there is any delay or complication in financial disbursements, the responsibility lies squarely with the Adeleke-led Osun State Government, which has flooded the courts with lawsuits in a failed attempt to overturn settled judicial decisions. No serious government sabotages its own legal standing and then seeks scapegoats for the consequences.”

He accused Adeleke of having previously paralysed local government administration in the state by instigating a prolonged strike by local government workers.

“The local government secretariats are open and functioning. Services continue to run, workers are back to their posts, and council administrations are carrying out their statutory responsibilities. The narrative of paralysis exists only in the imagination of a governor using falsehood to seek public sympathy,” he said.

He referenced a Court of Appeal judgement delivered on February 10, 2025, which he stated reinstated elected local government chairmen in Osun State, emphasising that the judgement was not appealed by the Osun State Government and therefore remains final and binding in law.

Commenting on alleged tenure elongation by the APC chairmen, the minister’s aide maintained that they were elected for a three-year term and were “removed illegally within weeks of assuming office. Any suggestion to the contrary amounted to ignorance or intentional misinformation.”

He disclosed that the issue of tenure is pending before the courts and advised Adeleke to desist from interfering in the affairs of an independent tier of government, as the Supreme Court has already granted full financial autonomy to the local government areas in the country.

Kebbi State Government has approved the release of over N1.8 billion for the payment of gratuities, death benefits and other outstanding entitlements owed to retirees, contract staff and families of deceased civil servants.

The approval was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Head of Service, Malami Shekare, and signed by the Director of Administration, Rashidu Muhammad-Bala.

According to the statement, the funds were disbursed in two phases to cover a wide range of beneficiaries across the state.

It stated that the first phase, covering March 16 to June 15, 2025, saw N933.03 million paid to 404 beneficiaries, while the second phase, from June 16 to September 15, 2025, involved the disbursement of N932.95 million to 443 beneficiaries.

The beneficiaries include personnel from the state civil service, local government councils, local government education authorities, contract workers and dependants of deceased public servants.

The government noted that the payments were made amid growing concerns over delays in the settlement of retirement benefits, which have affected retirees in many parts of the country due to economic and fiscal constraints.

Kebbi State is also grappling with pension and gratuity liabilities accumulated over several years.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Kebbi State Governor, Ahmed Idris, said the approval was part of efforts to clear outstanding arrears and reduce the backlog of unpaid entitlements.

He added that the move was aimed at easing the burden on retirees and families of deceased workers in the state.

Borno South Senator Ali Ndume has differed with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, stating that the new tax regime is fundamentally flawed.

Recall that Akpabio during plenary on Wednesday said the new tax law is not adulterated as the public has perceived it to be.

Speaking, however, during an appearance on Arise Television on Wednesday, Ndume said there are at least two different Gazette versions, stressing that he was one of those who identified the differences.

“We called the leadership to let them know that what we passed is not what the president signed. I don’t know why Sen. Akpabio is saying there are no discrepancies when he should set up a committee to find out.

“You will agree with me that even the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on tax reform, Taiwo Oyedele, admitted that they are differentials, two versions, or at least two versions of the tax law, and that if something has to be done, it has to be the National Assembly.

“My problem is not whether there are discrepancies or not. I’m worried about doing things behind closed doors. This is government of the people, for the people and by the people. And for God’s sake, why would you hide anything, even if it is personal?

“I’m surprised that the Senate President said there’s no adulteration. He’s not supposed to do that. He’s supposed to say, okay, we’ll find out. Set up a committee, because the House of Representatives has done that too, to find out.

“I will talk to him on that. This is not something that they can just bury. You know why? You cannot build on nothing, or you cannot build on disputed grounds.

“What if somebody now goes to court? You think the court will not listen to them? The way they are going about it up initial is full of contradiction and controversy,” Ndume said.