The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State has accused Governor Uba Sani of misappropriating over ₦53 billion in October 2024 allocations meant for the state’s 23 local government councils.
In a statement signed by the PDP’s Public Secretary, Hon. Maria Dogo, and released on November 24, the party described the alleged diversion as a “blatant act of corruption” and a violation of the Supreme Court’s guarantee of local government autonomy. The statement, also shared on Hon. Dogo’s social media pages, criticized the governor’s alleged actions as undermining democratic values of transparency and accountability.
Allegations of Autonomy Breach
The PDP claimed that Governor Uba Sani had warned council chairmen not to interfere with the funds allocated to their respective councils, while he reportedly remained absent from the state. Upon returning, the governor allegedly took control of the funds himself.
“This is not an isolated act of corruption by the APC administration in Kaduna State,” the statement read. “The APC’s manipulation of local government elections was an indicator of its intent to undermine democracy and appoint puppets who would facilitate the diversion of federal allocations.”
Impact on Local Governments
The PDP alleged that local councils have been stripped of their autonomy and starved of funds required for public services. For instance, the statement revealed that Kachia Local Government received only ₦600,000, while Kaduna North was left with ₦1.5 million out of their allocations.
“These actions have far-reaching consequences, denying citizens their fundamental rights to democratic governance and essential services,” the statement added.
Call for Accountability
The PDP urged Kaduna residents to demand accountability and called on anti-corruption agencies to investigate the allegations.
“We call on the relevant agencies to investigate and bring those responsible for this brazen corruption to justice, including the so-called council chairmen,” the party said.
It further reiterated its commitment to fighting for good governance under the leadership of Chief Edward Percy Masha, pledging to protect the rights of Kaduna State residents.
The APC-led Kaduna State government has yet to respond to these allegations.