The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has raised concerns over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for the release of funds to Regional Development Commissions, alleging that the move could create an avenue for the misuse of public resources ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Abubakar, the party said it was not opposed to the release of funds to the development commissions but insisted that such disbursements must be subject to adequate transparency and accountability measures.
The APM said the government should provide mechanisms to evaluate the viability and expected impact of projects, track fund releases and independently monitor their implementation.
“While we have nothing against the release of funds to Regional Development Commissions, such funding must come with transparency, measurable deliverables, independent oversight and strict accountability,” the party said.
According to the APM, the timing of the directive, which it said came barely four months before the 2027 general elections, has heightened concerns over how the funds would be utilised.
The party also questioned why the directive was issued several months after the National Assembly approved a ₦1.3 trillion budget for the Regional Development Commissions in March.
“Is it not curious that President Tinubu’s directive is coming just a few months to the election, a clear six months after the N1.3 trillion budget for the Regional Development Commissions was passed by the National Assembly in March this year?” the statement asked.
The APM further alleged that the record of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration regarding budget implementation, alongside allegations of diversion of public funds by some APC operatives, had increased public apprehension about the directive.
The party called on President Tinubu to address concerns that the release of the funds could be used to finance voter inducement ahead of the 2027 election.
“President Tinubu must come clean on public concerns that his directive is designed to enable the APC to warehouse funds for its plot to financially induce voters,” the APM said.
It also alleged that Regional Development Commissions had become conduits for the diversion of public resources through inflated and unexecuted contracts.
The party consequently demanded the publication of detailed information on the proposed disbursements before any funds are released.
Specifically, it called for the government to make public the allocation to each regional commission, details of proposed projects and their locations, the amounts earmarked for each project, the contractors involved and evidence of due diligence.
The APM also urged Nigerians to monitor the activities of the development commissions in their respective regions following the President’s directive.
It called on the management of the commissions and other government agencies to resist and report what it described as pressure or overtures from APC leaders seeking to misuse public institutions and resources.
Despite its concerns over the directive, the party expressed confidence in its presidential candidate, Engr. Seyi Makinde, ahead of the 2027 election.
The APM said Makinde remained a “credible alternative” to President Tinubu and claimed that he enjoyed significant support, particularly among young Nigerians.
The party maintained that no amount of inducement, intimidation or what it described as institutional manipulation would prevent its supporters from mobilising, voting and protecting their votes during the election.
