Governors milking councils dry, says ADC

Governors milking councils dry, says ADC

 

 

 

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) yesterday accused state governors of cornering local government allocations and plunging the nation deeper into corruption and bad governance.

 

The party said Nigeria was in “intensive care” due to the excesses of governors who allegedly divert federal funds meant for grassroots development.

 

Speaking at the Leadership Summit of the ADC and the National Coalition Alliance (NCA) in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, former National Chairman of the party, Chief Ralph Nwosu, alleged that governors have turned local government councils into personal estates.

 

According to him, each council in the country receives between ₦300 million and ₦600 million monthly, but chairmen are given only ₦5 million or ₦10 million to run the councils.

 

“With 13 councils in Ebonyi alone, imagine the billions siphoned monthly. After cornering these allocations, they still impose multiple taxes on traders and even barrow pushers. That must stop,” Nwosu said.

 

The ADC chieftain said the governors’ actions amount to tyranny, stressing that their misuse of power was destroying the same democracy that brought them into office.

 

He vowed that an ADC-led coalition would “rescue Nigeria” in 2027 through a leadership model built on service, integrity, and transparency.

 

“I resisted all manner of financial inducement to abandon this cause. What we are doing is beyond politics—it is about rebuilding Nigeria and returning it to health,” he said.

 

Nwosu also condemned attempts to brand ADC members as “terrorists” to frustrate the Abakaliki summit.

 

Echoing his position, Ebonyi ADC chairman, Comrade Jennifer Adibe-Nwafor, described the harassment and arrest of members before the summit as a direct attack on democracy.

 

“Our members were picked up by civilians, not even police officers, acting on the orders of the government. It took the intervention of the police to release them and return their seized property. Citizens have the right to belong to any political party of their choice,” she said.

 

She reaffirmed that the ADC had functional structures across all 13 LGAs and 171 wards of Ebonyi State, pledging that the party would contest vigorously in the 2027 general elections.

 

ADC National Financial Secretary, Muhammad Akibu Dahaltu, also accused APC-led governments of intimidation and high-handedness.

 

“From Kebbi to Kaduna, APC has always used touts and security forces to frustrate the opposition. Nigerians are weary after Buhari’s eight years and the current administration’s failures. Who in their right mind will vote APC again in 2027?” he asked.