. ALGON endorses Tinubu for 2nd term
COSMAS CHUKWU with Agency report
The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON has endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The endorsement was part of resolutions reached at the association’s 54th Expanded National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja.
The meeting, chaired by ALGON National President, Bello Lawal, was attended by members from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as past leaders of the association.
The motion to endorse Tinubu was moved by a former ALGON President, Alabi Kolade David, and seconded by the Plateau State ALGON chairman, Anani Hamisu Mohammed.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting on Sunday, Mohammed said continuity under Tinubu would “deepen grassroots governance” and reaffirmed the association’s support for the administration.
ALGON said its decision was based on the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which it noted had improved fiscal capacity and autonomy at the local government level.
Meanwhile, the council also suspended three local government chairmen over alleged misconduct.
Those suspended are: Zakari Iliyasu, Chairman of Agwara Local Government Area and ALGON chairman in Niger State; Abubakar Danladi Abdullahi, Chairman of Kaiama Local Government Area and ALGON chairman in Kwara State; and Abba Shehu Tambuwal, Chairman of Tambuwal Local Government Council and ALGON chairman in Sokoto State.
The association said the trio were suspended for impersonation, actions against its interest and abuse of constitutional provisions.
It warned ministries, departments and agencies, state governments and development partners against dealing with the affected officials, noting that they no longer had the authority to act on its behalf.
ALGON also passed a vote of confidence in its national president, pledging loyalty to the leadership.
Meanwhile, former Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, has provided a reason for his defection from the African Democratic Congress, ADC, to the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC.
Obi provided the details in a post on his X handle on Monday.
Obi had defected to the NDC on Sunday, alongside a former governor of Kano state, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and many National Assembly members.
The development has since swelled the membership base of the NDC, running into millions within the last 24 hours.
Obi said in his post that he left the ADC for the same reason he left the Labour Party.
Obi wrote: “Yesterday, I formally joined the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), alongside my dear brother, Engr. Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, with one clear purpose: to continue the struggle for a new Nigeria built on justice, competence, accountability, and compassion for the ordinary Nigerian.
“As I stated yesterday, this decision was not made out of anger, personal ambition, or convenience. It came after deep reflection on the present condition of our nation and the urgent need to rescue Nigeria from the dangerous path it is currently heading.
“Over the years, I have remained steadfast in my conviction that politics should never be about individuals, positions, or personal gain. It must be about the people, especially the millions of Nigerians who today can no longer afford necessities, whose businesses are collapsing, whose children are losing hope, and whose future is becoming increasingly uncertain.
“I left the ADC for the same reason I left the Labour Party: the severe, orchestrated litigation and internal crises deliberately designed to ensure that I, alongside many other notable individuals, do not effectively participate in the electoral process. I sincerely appreciate and remain deeply grateful to the Leadership of ADC for the opportunity to work together in pursuit of a better Nigeria. I am particularly grateful to ADC Chairman Senator David Mark for his exceptional Leadership. I also deeply appreciate my Leader and elder brother HE, Atiku Abubakar, as well as other respected leaders within the party.
“As we join the NDC, I sincerely appeal to the Nigerian Government against the encouragement of unresolved litigations and the infusion of crises within political parties. Democracy must never become a weapon against the people. A healthy democracy thrives on strong institutions, credible alternatives, and the freedom of citizens to make choices without intimidation, manipulation, or fear. Opposition parties must not be weakened or destroyed, because when democracy loses balance, the people ultimately suffer.
“Nigeria today is passing through one of the most difficult periods in its history. Poverty is rising. Hunger is widespread. Insecurity continues to threaten lives and livelihoods. Businesses are shutting down daily. Our young people are becoming discouraged, and many citizens have lost faith in the system. At a time like this, leadership must be driven not by propaganda or division, but by competence, capacity, character, and compassion.
“Our decision to join the NDC is therefore not an abandonment of values, but a continuation of the same mission we have always stood for: building a Nigeria where leadership is about service, where public resources are managed responsibly, where institutions function independently, and where every Nigerian, regardless of tribe, religion, region, or social status, can live with dignity, security, and hope.
“I remain committed to working with all Nigerians of goodwill across political, ethnic, and religious lines. The task before us is bigger than any individual or political party. It is about the future of our children and the survival of our dear nation.
“I thank Nigerians, especially our youths and women, for remaining peaceful, resilient, and hopeful despite the enormous challenges confronting the country. I urge you not to lose faith in Nigeria. Nations do not change because people surrender to hopelessness; they change because people continue to believe, continue to sacrifice, and continue to stand for what is right.
For a better society
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