Group questions budgetary provision, cites pending court cases
The Watchdogs for Good Governance has warned the 33 local government chairmen in Oyo State against releasing council funds for the planned December 29 local government election, questioning the legality and financial implications of a proposed N4.28bn funding arrangement.
The group alleged that the councils were being pressured to contribute N2.57bn towards the exercise despite claims that no provision was made for the expenditure in their 2026 budgets.
Under the proposed arrangement announced by the state government, the local governments are expected to bear 60 per cent of the election cost, amounting to N2,566,800,000, while the state government will contribute the remaining 40 per cent, or N1,711,200,000.
The controversy followed an announcement by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, that the State Executive Council had approved funding for the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct the election scheduled for December 29.
But the Watchdogs for Good Governance, in a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its convener, Comrade Ahmed Adeyemo, questioned why the councils should commit billions of naira to the election when, according to the group, the expenditure was not captured in their approved budgets.
Adeyemo argued that the proposed spending could further limit the resources available to local governments to address pressing needs in their communities, including bad roads, inadequate infrastructure and poor access to primary healthcare.
“Where is the budgetary provision for OYSIEC? Why resort to milking the councils dry when grassroots communities are grappling with bad roads, lack of basic infrastructure and poor access to quality primary healthcare?” he asked.
The group also raised concerns over pending court cases challenging the conduct of the election, warning that the councils could face financial consequences if the exercise were subsequently nullified.
According to Adeyemo, at least three suits had been filed by members of the Allied Peoples Movement over the election, including grievances relating to the selection of chairmanship and councillorship candidates across the 33 local government areas.
He maintained that proceeding with the election while the cases remained pending raised questions about the prudence of committing such a substantial amount of public money to the exercise.
“Spending billions on an election that is sub judice and may be voided by the courts is the height of administrative irresponsibility and financial recklessness,” Adeyemo said.
The group further alleged that council chairmen were under intense pressure from the state government to release their respective contributions, although it did not provide documentary evidence to substantiate the claim.
It consequently urged the chairmen not to authorise any transfer of council funds for the election without addressing the budgetary and legal concerns it had raised.
Adeyemo warned that any chairman found to have improperly diverted public funds for the exercise should be held accountable, insisting that local government resources should be used to meet the needs of residents.
“The funds belong to the people of Oyo State for development, not for funding an election whose legality is being contested,” he said.
The group called on the relevant authorities to clarify the financial arrangements for the election and address the concerns surrounding the pending litigation.
Efforts to obtain reactions from the affected council chairmen as of press time were unsuccessful.
