Supreme Court Grants LG Financial Autonomy: Upending Grassroots Power Ahead of 2027 Elections

In July 2024, Nigeria’s Supreme Court ruled that all 774 Local Government Areas must control their own federal allocations. The decision ends the State Joint Local Government Account system and cuts off funds to councils run by unelected caretaker committees. This landmark judgment threatens the long-standing gubernatorial grip on grassroots patronage networks. By stripping governors of their financial veto, it dismantles what has been called the ‘Political ATM’ at the state level. As parties gear up for the 2027 elections, this shift in local autonomy is already reshaping campaign strategies and grassroots alliances. Full data analysis and charts are available in a recent report.

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