A prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Abia State, Prince Paul Ikonne, has issued a strong appeal to Governor Alex Otti. He is urging the governor to ensure complete adherence to the recent Supreme Court ruling that grants local government councils direct access to their statutory allocations from the federation account.
A Call for Constitutional Obedience and Grassroots Development
Ikonne made this call during an interview on Television Continental (TVC) on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. He emphasized that local governments represent a crucial tier of governance responsible for delivering services directly to the people, and their functions must not be weakened. He specifically asked Governor Otti to collaborate with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to see the effective implementation of this autonomy, praising the President's clear and courageous commitment to strengthening grassroots administration.
"You can see how passionate the President is about ensuring that local governments manage their funds and execute projects that directly impact the people," Ikonne stated. "It was refreshing to see him confront this issue head-on." He warned against turning the President's directive into a political tool, stressing that party leaders have a duty to guide their members on essential governance reforms.
Contrasting Abia's Situation with Other States
Drawing a comparison, the APC chieftain pointed to states like Lagos and Enugu, where he noted that local councils are actively using their resources to build schools and healthcare facilities. He expressed deep concern over the alleged situation in Abia State, where he claims local governments do not have effective control over the funds allocated to them.
Ikonne revealed that Abia's 17 local government areas collectively receive billions of naira every month. He argued that if these funds were properly managed at the grassroots level, they could significantly alleviate the economic hardships faced by residents. He made a specific allegation that some council chairmen receive only a small fraction of their monthly allocation—which he said could be between ₦400 million and ₦500 million—for operational costs, severely crippling their capacity to undertake development projects.
He, therefore, challenged the Abia State Government to provide full transparency on the disbursement and utilization of local government funds, stating that the current arrangement has stunted development in the state's communities.
Autonomy as a Constitutional Duty, Not Partisan Politics
Ikonne expressed hope that APC governors who have not yet complied with the Supreme Court verdict would do so following deliberations at the party's recent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. He was responding to claims that the APC is using federal might to pressure opposition governors to defect. He dismissed these allegations, attributing any political shifts to internal issues within opposition parties themselves.
He firmly maintained that obeying the Supreme Court's judgment is a constitutional obligation for all state governments, regardless of political affiliation. This echoes President Tinubu's own remarks at the APC NEC meeting, where he lamented the ongoing non-compliance with the ruling and hinted that further steps could be taken to enforce it if necessary.
