Councillors across Nigeria have declared their support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, saying they see no reason to back another presidential candidate.
The President of the National Councillors Forum of Nigeria (NCFN), Hon. Evoh Okechukwu Nwikegwu, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during the forum’s National Executive Council meeting themed “The Way Forward for NCFN: Unity, Hope and Grassroots Development.”
Nwikegwu said the councillors’ position was influenced by what they described as gains recorded by local governments under the Tinubu administration, particularly the Supreme Court judgment on local government financial autonomy.
He noted that the judgment, which followed the Federal Government’s case, paved the way for allocations to the 774 local government areas to be paid directly into local government accounts from the Federation Account.
According to him, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) subsequently directed the opening of dedicated accounts for local governments to receive their allocations.
Nwikegwu described the development as a form of fiscal liberation for local governments and said it was one of the reasons councillors should support Tinubu’s second-term bid.
He also pointed to ongoing road projects under the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, as well as the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme, as other programmes the councillors believe should be highlighted at the grassroots.
“A united and focused Forum was essential if councillors were to succeed both in delivering grassroots development and in mobilising support for President Tinubu’s reelection bid,” Nwikegwu said.
The NCFN president urged councillors nationwide to close ranks and mobilise support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election, describing them as the political actors closest to voters at the ward level.
He said councillors must demonstrate their relevance by ensuring that government programmes have visible impact in their communities.
Nwikegwu also reminded councillors that their performance would ultimately be judged by what they deliver to residents rather than their political titles.
He announced plans to establish committees that would strengthen collaboration between the forum and relevant government agencies, with the aim of improving the implementation of government programmes across the 774 local government areas.
The NCFN president further warned against divisive tendencies within the forum, saying unity would be essential for both grassroots development and political mobilisation.
He also directed the forum’s legal adviser to investigate what he described as unauthorised meetings held in the name of the NCFN, insisting that he remains its recognised National President.
Source: National Councillors Forum of Nigeria.
