ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Vice President of Nigeria Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, pledged on September 1, 2026, to enforce the direct payment of federal allocations to local government councils immediately upon taking office if elected president in 2027.
The commitment was detailed in an official statement issued by his spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, on September 1, 2026, via the social media platform X. Golden Info reports that Atiku Abubakar promised his administration would respect court rulings and enforce the Supreme Court of Nigeria judgment from July 2024 regarding local government financial autonomy.
The statement accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of failing to implement the ruling in order to maintain support from state governors ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The statement alleged that state governors were permitted to retain control over local council funds as a political incentive.
“My administration will respect court judgments, protect local government autonomy, ensure that public funds reach the people for whom they are meant, and restore true federalism,” Atiku Abubakar said in the statement. “This move will ensure that development is brought to the grassroots, reduce poverty at the level of government nearest to the people, and guarantee financial independence to the local governments which will increase their capacity to fight crimes and terrorism at that level.”
“This is not the Nigeria we should accept,” Atiku Abubakar said.
Implementation of the July 2024 ruling remains stalled, despite 10.48 trillion Naira ($6.55 billion) being allocated to the country’s local governments since the judgment was delivered.