President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has warned chairmen of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas against allowing their councils to become breeding grounds for political thuggery, intimidation and electoral violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Tinubu gave the warning on Tuesday at the maiden Annual National Conference of the 774 Local Government Council Chairmen held at the State House, Abuja.
The President, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, urged the council bosses to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to thuggery, hate speech, intimidation and violence.
He also warned them against allowing youths to be recruited for electoral violence or lured into substance abuse.
Tinubu said that although the Independent National Electoral Commission is constitutionally responsible for conducting elections, local government chairmen have a major role to play because they are closest to the communities where voting will take place.
He urged them to create an atmosphere where citizens can vote freely without fear or intimidation.
Nigeria is already heading into the critical period leading to the 2027 general elections, with political activities expected to intensify across the country.
The President said the chairmen must work to reduce political tension in their communities and collaborate with traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth and women groups, community associations and lawful security agencies.
He said local leaders should identify grievances and emerging threats before they degenerate into violence.
Tinubu also urged the council chairmen to respect the right of citizens to freely choose their leaders, stressing that peaceful participation would strengthen confidence in the electoral process.
Beyond the 2027 elections, the President challenged the council bosses to justify the financial autonomy granted local governments by delivering visible development at the grassroots.
He recalled that his administration approached the Supreme Court to affirm the constitutional and financial autonomy of local governments, culminating in the July 11, 2024 judgment.
According to him, the autonomy should not be treated as an entitlement but as a tool for better service delivery.
Tinubu said Nigerians should see improvements in primary healthcare, basic education, rural roads, potable water, food security, small businesses and opportunities for women and young people.
He also urged the councils to become centres of development planning, service delivery and early warning, using technology, reliable data and evidence-based decision-making.
On security, Tinubu said the Federal Government had continued to strengthen and reform the country’s security institutions but stressed that lasting peace could not be built from Abuja alone.
He charged the council chairmen to make security a community responsibility by working closely with relevant stakeholders and identifying threats before they escalate.
The President further warned local governments against becoming passive recipients of Federal Government programmes.
He urged the chairmen to take advantage of opportunities created by regional development commissions to attract partnerships and investments suited to the needs of their communities.
Tinubu said history had placed a major responsibility on the 774 council chairmen to transform their areas and leave behind measurable improvements.
He urged them to use their tenure to improve the lives of residents and strengthen the systems they inherited.
The conference was themed, “Cascading President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to the Grassroots.”
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