PDP, APC Clash Over Supreme Court Ruling on Local Government Autonomy

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) exchanged criticisms on Sunday regarding the recent Supreme Court ruling that grants autonomy to local governments.

The PDP described the Supreme Court judgment as potentially problematic, while the APC labeled the PDP as an enemy of the people, accusing them of obstructing the flow of democratic benefits to the grassroots.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that a month after the Supreme Court’s decision, PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba held a press conference in Abuja, asserting that the issue was still unresolved. On July 11, the Supreme Court ruled that the 36 state governors could no longer control funds designated for the 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria.

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This judgment, delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, emphasized that local governments must handle their own finances, thereby reinforcing their financial independence. Additionally, the court ruled that state governments lack the authority to appoint caretaker committees for local councils, recognizing only democratically elected local governments.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who is the Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, warned of potential public repercussions from the ruling. “The law is the law and when there is a conflict, yes, we should go to the court.

But it behooves us to look for our own homegrown solutions that can ensure that we have transparency and that our people do not suffer. This is because when two elephants are fighting it is the grass that will suffer,” Makinde said.

In response, PDP spokesperson Ologunagba stated that the party was reviewing the Supreme Court’s decision. He expressed concerns about creating additional bureaucracies that might lead to corruption and manipulation by the Federal Government.

Ologunagba said, “The concern is very clear, and local governments are related to the state because they are closer to it. Now, as a party, we are reviewing those positions of the Supreme Court with concern. And I will say this —the fact that the Federal Government is trying to create another bureaucracy that would be corrupt or deviant in local government control, we think that would be another recipe for trouble.”

He continued, “It would be close to where it would be available for manipulation from the Federal Government. We believe that if there are reforms to be made to the local government, they should be done in conjunction with the governors, not by the fiat of the Federal Government.”

Ologunagba further noted that if issues arose within a local government, the chairman would typically reach out to the state governor, not the Federal Government.

He stated that, “The state government has responsibility. If there is a problem in the local government, they won’t call the Federal Government; they will call the state government. So there must be that understanding that the state government has a duty, has a responsibility, and what you can work on is the best way to allow for the efficiency of that state government, with the governors and the concerns provided for local government joint accounts.”

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Reacting to the PDP’s position, APC National Director of Publicity Bala Ibrahim dismissed it as preposterous and an afterthought. Ibrahim questioned why the PDP took over a month to respond and asserted that the apex court’s ruling is final.

He stated, “Even as a layman in law, I know that once the Supreme Court has decided a matter, it is the ultimate. Nobody can challenge that, unless the PDP is trying to initiate something afresh that does not exist in the Constitution.”

Ibrahim criticized the PDP’s stance, accusing them of wanting to perpetuate corruption and obstruct democratic benefits. He remarked, “I have not seen anywhere in the world where someone is given freedom on a platter after years of slavery and he says ‘No, I don’t want that freedom. I want to remain in bondage. I want to continuously remain under the control of my oppressor.’”

He concluded, “By the creation and provision of the Constitution, the local government is the closest government to the people and it is supposed to be one government interface directly with the people.

These local governments have been given the powers to discharge their duty in a manner that will give dividends to the people and you are saying no. You want to review it and see how state governments can continue to emasculate the people. This is a shame. This is not opposition; I will say it’s criminality.”

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