The Pan Yoruba Socio-Political Group, Afenifere, has vehemently condemned the Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local government areas, describing it as a “judicial conspiracy” against the Nigerian state and its federal principles.

In a statement titled “Tinubu and the Grand Conspiracy Against Democracy and True Federalism in Nigeria,” signed by Pa Ayo Adebanjo, leader of the group, and Prince Justice Faloye, National Publicity Secretary, Afenifere expressed its disappointment and outrage over the ruling.

The group views the judgment as a deliberate misinterpretation of the constitution, which recognizes only a two-tier federal structure comprising the central government and federating states. Instead, it said the Supreme Court’s decision has elevated local governments to a third tier, undermining the principles of federalism.

Afenifere said Nigeria is a federation consisting of states and a Federal Capital Territory, as affirmed by Section 2 (2) of the 1999 constitution.

“While Afenifere frowns at corruption and misuse of public funds at levels of government, it condemns in most unmistaken terms the subjugation of the states and their constitutional roles, including the local government system, to the whims and caprices of the federal government by any means including obvious manipulation of the federation account as in the present case,” it added.

The group pointed out that the 1999 constitution provides for each state to maintain a special account, the “State Joint Local Government Account,” into which all allocations to local government councils from the Federation Account and state government shall be paid.