“Local Govt Autonomy is Tinubu’s Political Move for 2027 Election” – Buhari

The recent Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments in Nigeria has been praised by many. However, Ahmed Buhari, the Vice Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2023 election, offers a different perspective.

Buhari argues that President Bola Tinubu’s implementation of local government autonomy is a strategic move to gain grassroots support for the 2027 election.

Nigeria’s Supreme Court ruled it illegal for governors to withhold funds allocated to local governments, stating, “The amount standing to the credit of local government councils must be paid by the federation to the local government councils and not by any other person or body.” Additionally, the court ruled against governors dissolving elected local councils and replacing them with caretaker committees.

Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, brought the case to court in May on behalf of the federal government.

Political Strategy

In an interview on AIT’s Focus Nigeria, Ahmed Buhari expressed his support for local government autonomy but labeled the judgment as a political maneuver by Tinubu to secure grassroots loyalty ahead of the 2027 elections.

“It is a political move. So, if I want to come back to office in 2027, I might not necessarily win the loyalty of the governors because most of them might also want to contest against me,” Buhari said. “But if I can win the loyalty of the people at the grassroots where the real votes are, they know that the money comes directly from me to them. We are leaving the governors hanging and we can even remove the governors if we want.”

Buhari suggested that Tinubu aims to bypass governors by directing federal funds straight to local councils, ensuring their allegiance.

Potential for Misappropriation

Buhari also highlighted the potential for misappropriation of funds at the local level, a problem state governors currently face. He noted that the federal government could leverage such issues for political gain, demanding support and votes in exchange for leniency.

To combat misappropriation, Buhari recommended adopting technology-driven systems to enhance accountability, transparency, and efficiency in governance.