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Supreme Court got it wrong on LG autonomy

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Supreme court to deliver verdict on LG autonomy suit Thursday

FEDERALISM is the imaginary bedrock of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy, designed to balance power between the centre and the sub-nationals. However, the recent judgement by the Supreme Court concerning local government autonomy has raised critical questions about the integrity of this federalist structure. The judiciary should interpret the Constitution to reinforce decentralisation.

In its latest judicial intervention on the suit filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), challenging the state governors’ control of LGs, the Court declared that the government is portioned into three tiers – federal, state, and local. This is a blatant assault on the tenets of federalism.

The judgement barred the governors from receiving, retaining, or spending the LG allocations. The Court held that states receiving LG funds violate Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution. It asserted that the Constitution states that any money leaving the Federation Account must be distributed to the three tiers of government. This is erroneous: in federalism, there are only two units of government – the centre and the federating units.

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The Supreme Court erred in its judgement as the LGs have no place in a federal constitution. Therefore, one of the fundamental flaws of the 1999 Constitution is to list the 774 LGs in it. This must be corrected.

In federal jurisdictions, such as the United States, India, and Brazil, the constitution recognises only the centre and province/region/state governments. States fund the LGs as the councils are under them. Thus, the Supreme Court judgement is a conspiracy against federalism.

The Court ruled that state governors do not have the power to dissolve elected LG councils and replace them with caretaker committees. This violates Section 7(1) of the Constitution. While we agree with the justices that the councils should be run only by democratically elected officials, the question of financial autonomy for LGs has no place in a federal constitution.

The State and Local Government Joint Account was created because council bosses were looting funds and not paying primary school teachers. Since that account was created, primary school teachers are no longer owed salaries. Sadly, paying the monthly allocation directly to the councils would not stop the diversion of council funds.

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Rather than chasing shadows at the Supreme Court, the Bola Tinubu Administration should focus on the political and economic restructuring of the country along the lines of true federalism. Federalism, as envisioned by the founding fathers, was intended to balance power between the central government and the constituent units, ensuring efficient governance, fostering development, and accommodating the country’s vast ethnic, cultural, and regional diversity.

READ ALSO  2027 Presidency: Atiku, El-Rufai Meet as Details of Fresh Plot to Sack Tinubu Emerge [VIDEO]

The journey towards federalism has been fraught with challenges, inconsistencies, and deviations from its core principles. Nigeria’s federal structure was designed to prevent the concentration of power at the centre and promote regional autonomy.

The principle of federalism was meant to allow each region to govern itself while contributing to the collective unity and progress of the country. This was seen as essential for a country as diverse as Nigeria, with over 250 ethnic groups and many cultural identities.

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Despite having the constitutional framework for federalism, Nigeria operates more as a centralised system. The Federal Government wields significant legislative and executive powers, often encroaching on areas that should fall under state jurisdiction. With 68 items, the Exclusive Legislative List entrenches the impunity of the Federal Government.

States should stop the illegal practice of dissolving elected councils and appointing caretaker committees. Local elections should be free, fair, and credible to ensure accountability.

The journey to true federalism in Nigeria requires a collective commitment to restructuring the current political and administrative framework. By bridging the gap between the theoretical foundations of federalism and the practical realities, Nigeria can harness its diversity, foster development, and build a more united and prosperous country.

Source: The Punch

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2027 Presidency: Atiku, El-Rufai Meet as Details of Fresh Plot to Sack Tinubu Emerge [VIDEO]

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2027 Presidency: Atiku, El-Rufai Meet as Details of Fresh Plot to Sack Tinubu Emerge

ADC coalition leaders Atiku Abubakar and Nasir El-Rufai have met again amid the plot to democratically sack President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Political commentators are predicting that 78-year-old Atiku will have another shot at the presidency – it would be his fifth attempt

It remains to be seen whether the ADC will be able to find a consensus or if it will have to hold a primary election to choose its presidential candidate.

Ahead of the 2027 election, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday evening, September 20, paid a solidarity visit to former governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai.

Legit reports that per a statement signed by Atiku and shared on the presidential hopeful’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the visit was necessary after thugs allegedly attacked El-Rufai and other individuals at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) inauguration in Kaduna state recently.

READ ALSO  2027 Presidency: Atiku, El-Rufai Meet as Details of Fresh Plot to Sack Tinubu Emerge [VIDEO]

Atiku blamed the attack on “APC-sponsored thugs”, reiterating that “the activities of the Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration poses the greatest risk to our democracy since the return of democratic governance.”

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Atiku said: “It is concerning that this administration has turned into a full-blown dictatorship.”

Messrs Atiku and El-Rufai resolved to harmonise their strengths and stand united in their resolve to ‘rescue Nigeria’.

Atiku said: “The battle to save our democracy and provide a viable alternative platform that will enthrone purposeful governance is a response to the wishes and aspirations of Nigerians who are fed up with the incompetent and clueless Tinubu government.”

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Speaking during the meeting, El-Rufai said: “It is a disgrace for people to behave the way they behave. So, it means that all the years of saying that we are for democracy, we are fighting for true federalism, they were all pretence, it was all fake, because this government is trying to centralise everything.

“The sum total of this is that we are facing an evil of such a large proportion in the history of this country that if we don’t all come together and end this Tinubu administration by 2027; Tinubu will try to be president for life. All the signs are there.”

El-Rufai said: “Here we are, we are facing full-fledge civilians worse than military regime. The call (by Atiku) that we (ADC coalition members) must unite is a kindly one.

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“I think the people of Nigeria have made up their minds that this government must go; APC must be voted out. We must provide the leadership and the unity of purpose that you talked about. I’m sure with your leadership, with your forbearance and with your diplomatic skills of bringing people together, I’m sure we will reach the Promised Land.”

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2027 Election: Tinubu vs Jonathan, Atiku: Ayodele Drops BOMBSHELL In New Prophecy

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Primate Ayodele: A priest or political analyst? His 7 prophecies that failed

President Bola Tinubu has again been told to be prepared for a serious challenge from the opposition in the 2027 elections

Primate Elijah Ayodele has consistently been in the news week in, week out.

Ayodele warned the president in his latest series of prophecies released on his church’s YouTube pageClick link to continue reading 

According to Ayodele, former President Goodluck Jonathan and ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar would give Tinubu a tough time in 2027.

In the video, Ayodele said President Tinubu should prepare for former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The cleric, however, added that he was not sure if the two would defeat the president in the 2027 election.

READ ALSO  2027 Presidency: Atiku, El-Rufai Meet as Details of Fresh Plot to Sack Tinubu Emerge [VIDEO]

The cleric also called on President Tinubu to carry out more projects in the northern part of the country, adding that dividing the leaders in the region would be an advantage for him in the 2027 presidential election.

Atiku has been leading the call on opposition leaders to come together under one umbrella and form a coalition against President Tinubu in the 2027 election. The coalition was recently formed with Peter Obi of the Labour Party, former Minister Chibuike Amaechi and many other opposition leaders in the country.

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The coalition recently adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political platform ahead of the 2027 election. However, it is facing the crisis of who will be its presidential candidate as Atiku, Obi, and Amaechi have announced plans to contest the 2027 election.

READ ALSO  2027 Election: Tinubu vs Jonathan, Atiku: Ayodele Drops BOMBSHELL In New Prophecy

To outsmart spies in the camp, many supporters of the former president, especially those in his inner circle, have allegedly held several meetings outside the country with a focus on consolidating the former president’s support base within the PDP, as well as coming up with a strategy to handle what they referred to as ‘Nyesom Wike problem’.

The coinage was a reference to the conflict between the PDP and the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

READ ALSO  2027 Election: Tinubu vs Jonathan, Atiku: Ayodele Drops BOMBSHELL In New Prophecy

Wike, in an interview, urged the former president not to join the 2027 race but to maintain his pace as a statesman. The minister also accused those calling for the return of the former president of being betrayers and hypocrites, saying the same people undermined him in the 2015 presidential election.

Jonathan’s camp was said to be worried about Wike’s comment, describing it as a threat to the former president’s second coming as a source disclosed that the minister’s opposition cannot be ignored, which was ‘why some of our meetings have been about how to ensure he does not become a stumbling block’.

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2027 Election: Ex-President Jonathan Sends Crucial Message To Nigerians; ‘What You Should Do’

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As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, there is a growing conversation about the potential return of former President Goodluck Jonathan, highlighting the dynamic and evolving political landscape of the country.

This speculation offers an opportunity for reflection on past leadership and what Nigeria needs in its future governance. Discussions have begun to circulate that Jonathan could once again influence the upcoming race for power.Click link for full details 

READ ALSO  2027 Presidency: Atiku, El-Rufai Meet as Details of Fresh Plot to Sack Tinubu Emerge [VIDEO]

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FULL LIST: 7 Unfulfilled Prophecies By Primate Elijah Ayodele; ‘What He Said About Jonathan’

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Primate Ayodele: A priest or political analyst? His 7 prophecies that failed

Primate Elijah Ayodele, founder and leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, is a prominent spiritual figure whose prophecies appeal to a diverse audience.

While some of his prophecies have faced criticism for inaccuracies, a considerable number have proven to be accurate, which has enhanced his credibility among followers and supporters.

His focus on political issues has been scrutinized by various political figures, especially in cases where his predictions have not come to pass.Click link for full details here

READ ALSO  2027 Presidency: Atiku, El-Rufai Meet as Details of Fresh Plot to Sack Tinubu Emerge [VIDEO]

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2027 Elections: List of 5 Prominent Nigerians Tinubu Is Considering As Next INEC Chairman Revealed

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Shea Butter Ban: Experts split over Tinubu’s six-month executive order

President Bola Tinubu is said to be at the junction of where different parts meet as the tenure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), ends next month.

According to a report, the president was said to be considering someone from the southwest, but other factors have set in for the president to consider in choosing the next chairman of INEC

The question of who will be Yakubu’s successor has become of interest to many Nigerians.

As a matter of fact, the southwest and north-central are the only two regions that have not produced an electoral chairman since the inception of the body in 1966

Yakubu was first appointed by the late President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020 and was reappointed in 2025, making him the longest-serving chairman of the electoral body.

READ ALSO  2027 Election: Tinubu vs Jonathan, Atiku: Ayodele Drops BOMBSHELL In New Prophecy

How to appoint next INEC chairman
According to Daily Trust, Section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) stated that the president shall appoint the chairman of INEC, and the appointee would be subjected to Senate confirmation.

Furthermore, paragraph 14 of Part I of the Third Schedule explained that anyone who will be INEC chairman must be someone “of unquestionable integrity” and at least 50 years old.

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President Tinubu has been said to be keeping his choice to himself, and sources have reportedly advised him to reconsider and review options so that the number of those who would be screened for the position would be increased.

READ ALSO  2027 Presidency: Atiku, El-Rufai Meet as Details of Fresh Plot to Sack Tinubu Emerge [VIDEO]

Some sources disclosed that Tinubu initially preferred a particular candidate from the southwest for the position before the advent of other factors, which left the president with no choice but to include other people from other geopolitical zones.

Project names of the next INEC chairman
However, the report has listed five prominent Nigerians whom President Tinubu may appoint as the next INEC chairman.

Below is the list of the possible nominees:
1. A judge of the Court of Appeal, Justice Abdullahi Mohammed Liman.
2. Lai Olurode, a former INEC national commissioner and retired professor at the University of Lagos.
3. Kenneth Ukeagu, a former director of procurement of INEC.
4. Sam Olumekun, the current INEC National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education.
5. Professor Bashiru Olamilekan

READ ALSO  2027 Election: Tinubu vs Jonathan, Atiku: Ayodele Drops BOMBSHELL In New Prophecy

Who is Professor Bashiru Olamilekan
However, the last person mentioned in the report, Professor Bashiru Olamilekan, has earlier been debunked. He was earlier rumoured in April 2025 to have been appointed as the new INEC chairman.

A fact-check report by Reuters debunked the claim and could not trace the name to any individual. Also, an opinion by Farooq Kperogi, a political commentator, in an opinion on The Tribune, summed up the Reuters’ fact-check about Professor Olamilekan as “simply doesn’t exist.”

Meanwhile, since the establishment of the electoral body in 1966, only the southwest and the north-central have not produced a chairman of INEC.

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Fight Back: Fresh Tension As Fubara Told To Sack All Appointees [DETAILS DETAILS]

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Fubara: 'Battle Is Not Over, Only Time Will Tell'

As Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended Governor of Rivers State, returns to the government house after a six-month suspension, mounting evidence suggests that he is poised to dismiss all appointees associated with the Sole Administrators.

These individuals were primarily appointed under the influence of President Bola Tinubu and  Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Click link to continue reading.

Tension In Rivers As 7-Day Budget Ultimatum Reaches Deadline

Peter Odili, ex-Rivers State Governor, has said it was God that destined Sir Siminalayi Fubara to become the governor of the state.

This potential shake-up could signal the onset of a renewed political struggle within the state, as Fubara seeks to reassert his authority and reshape the administration to align more closely with his vision and goals. The ramifications of these actions are likely to resonate throughout the political landscape of Rivers State, stirring tensions and possibly igniting conflicts among various factions.

READ ALSO  2027 Election: Tinubu vs Jonathan, Atiku: Ayodele Drops BOMBSHELL In New Prophecy

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara to sack all the appointees of the Sole Administrators in the past six months.

The Governor returned to the Rivers State Government House on Friday after his six months of widely condemned suspension by President Bola Tinubu.

While Fubara’s suspension met a wide range of condemnations, it still lasted for the six-month period as declared by the President with the Governor returning on Friday, a day after the Sole administrator left the Government House.

READ ALSO  2027 Presidency: Atiku, El-Rufai Meet as Details of Fresh Plot to Sack Tinubu Emerge [VIDEO]

During this period of six months, Ibok-Ette Ibas made some appointments which Eze, a former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party, nPDP, said Governor Fubara must not work with.

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Eze said he “expects the Governor to sack all the appointees of the illegal Sole Administrators and ensure that nobody imposes anybody on him as his Commissioner or aide even as Nyesom Wike have promised not to act in such a devilish act of imposing anybody on him..

READ ALSO  2027 Presidency: Atiku, El-Rufai Meet as Details of Fresh Plot to Sack Tinubu Emerge [VIDEO]

“And for peace to reign, all members of the State Assembly that either resigned or worked with Sim Fubara must be reabsorbed by the State Assembly.”

Eze also called on Tinubu to reassure Fubara that he will be protected.

The Governor must be assured that he is not set up for further embarrassment by the funny members of the State Assembly through any impeachment move.

He said failure to do this, the Governor should invoke his full powers as the Executive Governor of the State

 

 

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