The governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) in Oyo State, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, has challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, to present his record on local government autonomy during his over three years in the Senate.

Adekanmbi accused Alli of politicising the issue of local government autonomy, alleging that the senator had yet to sponsor a bill to advance the cause despite representing Oyo South Senatorial District.

The APM candidate spoke on Fresh FM Ibadan’s Political Circuit programme, where he questioned Alli’s promises on local government autonomy and challenged him to explain how he intended to achieve it if elected governor.

“This my egbon that is saying he is the champion of local government autonomy has been in the Senate for over three years; he has no single bill to that effect,” Adekanmbi said.

He argued that candidates should not make promises on local government autonomy without explaining the legal and administrative steps required to implement it.

According to him, no state governor can independently grant local governments full autonomy under the existing constitutional framework, insisting that legislative amendments and executive action would be necessary to implement the Supreme Court’s 2024 judgment on direct allocation of funds to local governments.

Adekanmbi said the debate should go beyond political promises to address how councils would manage their finances, meet salary and pension obligations, ensure transparency and remain financially responsible.

He identified four questions that, according to him, must be addressed: what happens when allocations are insufficient to cover salaries and pensions; how fiscal responsibility and transparency would be guaranteed; how council chairmen would be prevented from abusing public funds; and what would happen if federal allocations stopped.

The former Oyo State commissioner for finance, budget and planning said his approach, if elected governor, would include ensuring that residents had a say in how money meant for their communities was spent.

“I will ensure that the local people have a say in the spending of their money,” he said.

Adekanmbi also questioned Alli’s record as former chairman of Ibadan North Local Government, alleging that the council experienced salary arrears during the period of local government autonomy under the military.

He alleged that the former council chairman’s administration had been criticised over its financial management, challenging Alli to explain his performance during his tenure.

The APM candidate maintained that the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) arrangement was introduced to address financial disparities among local governments, including differences in their capacity to meet salary and pension obligations.

He said any meaningful reform of local government administration should take account of the legal framework, the financial realities of individual councils and mechanisms to ensure accountability.

Adekanmbi urged Alli to explain both his legislative record on local government autonomy and how he intended to address the practical challenges associated with implementing it.