The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to ensure that funds meant for Nigeria’s local governments are paid directly to them immediately after he is sworn in as President.

Atiku made the pledge in a statement signed and posted via X.com by his official spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, on Tuesday.

The former Vice President said his administration would uphold the rule of law and ensure constitutional independence for all tiers of government, including local governments.

Atiku also referenced the Supreme Court judgment delivered in July 2024 on the financial autonomy of local governments, accusing the administration of President Bola Tinubu of failing to enforce the judgment.

According to him, the alleged failure was aimed at avoiding confrontation with state governors who previously controlled local government funds.

The statement partly read, “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.

“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.”

Atiku alleged that the Tinubu administration’s position was influenced by political considerations ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

He claimed that state governors were being allowed to retain control of local government funds as an incentive to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.

“This is not the Nigeria we should accept,” the former Vice President stated.

PUNCHONLINE reported in July that two years after the Supreme Court ordered the direct payment of federal allocations to local government councils, implementation of the landmark financial autonomy judgment remains stalled despite N10.48tn being allocated to the third tier of government within the period

The Allied People’s Movement has changed the date for the official unveiling of the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Office from the earlier announced date of Thursday, September 3, 2026, to Monday, September 7, 2026.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Abubakar Yusuf, stated this in a statement on Tuesday, according to the Special Adviser (Media) to the Oyo State Governor, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju.

The statement noted that the event would hold at the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Office, 43 Agadez Street, Wuse 2, Abuja, by 11am.

It read in part: “The APM urges all our leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members to note this change of date and be guided accordingly.

“We sincerely regret the inconveniences caused by this change of date.”

Source: punchng.com

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A former presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, Adamu Garba, has announced his withdrawal from active political participation.

Garba made this known in a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday, saying he would focus exclusively on his technology company.

He said his decision followed “careful reflection” and was driven by the demands of his responsibilities as head of the business.

“To my friends, associates, party leaders, supporters and the general public, after careful reflection, I write to formally announce my decision to scale down all politically related activities and to focus exclusively on my responsibilities as Executive Chairman of IPI Group Limited and Chief Platform Architect of the Group and all its subsidiaries,” Garba said.

According to him, the work required his “sustained personal attention, technical depth and a presence that cannot be delegated.”

“In all honesty, they cannot be carried alongside heavy political participation without one or the other suffering.

“I have therefore chosen to give my full and exclusive attention to the development of our AI-First enterprise, and to the work of strengthening our community and our society through technology, for the greater good of all, and for the benefit of the future of our country and our continent,” the former presidential aspirant said.

He added, “I am deeply grateful for the interest, the invitations and the collective support I have received throughout my political journey over the past nine years. That season shaped me, and I do not take lightly the confidence that was placed in me.”

Garba declared interest in the 2019 presidential race under the All Progressives Congress, emphasising structural reforms, youth inclusion and national integration.

He continued as an APC presidential aspirant ahead of the 2023 elections.

In 2022, he withdrew from the APC contest, citing the high cost of expression-of-interest and nomination forms, which were pegged at N100m, and concerns that the cost would commercialise politics and exclude young and less-wealthy contenders.

His campaign had raised about N83.2m in donations, which he said would be returned.

Throughout the subsequent years, Garba remained publicly associated with the APC.

Source: punchng.com

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