I Will Direct Local Government Funds Straight to Councils if Elected" ~ Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said that, if elected president, he will immediately begin paying local government allocations directly to the councils.

In a statement issued on September 1 2026 through his spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, Atiku said Nigeria should be governed by the rule of law and that each tier of government should have the constitutional independence provided for it.

He referred to the Supreme Court judgment of July 2024, which directed that local government funds be paid directly to the councils pointing out that the current administration has not implemented the ruling.

He pledged that his government would obey court judgments, protect local government autonomy, and send public funds to the level of government for which they are intended.