Former First Lady of Oyo State, Mrs Kemi Alao-Akala, has declared her support for local government autonomy, describing the grassroots tier of government as the closest to the people while calling for collective political support for Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, ahead of the 2027 Oyo State election.
Alao-Akala made the remarks in a goodwill message during the unveiling of Alli’s governorship manifesto, My Pact, where she identified herself as an ambassador of local government autonomy and recalled her late husband’s position on the importance of grassroots governance in a democratic system.
“I want you people to know that I’m an ambassador of local government autonomy,” she declared.
Explaining the principle behind her position, she recalled that her late husband, former Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, consistently emphasised the importance of local government as the tier of administration closest to ordinary citizens.
“My late husband will always say, democracy is the government of the people, and local government is the closest government to the people,” she said.
Her remarks placed local government autonomy at the centre of her message, particularly as the issue remains an important subject in discussions about grassroots development, public finance and democratic accountability in Nigeria.
Local governments are expected to provide essential services and respond directly to the needs of communities through areas such as primary healthcare, local markets, sanitation, rural roads and other grassroots development initiatives. Their ability to perform these responsibilities is closely connected to their financial capacity, administrative independence and accountability to residents.
The debate over local government autonomy has received renewed national attention following the Supreme Court’s July 2024 judgment on financial autonomy for local government councils. The judgment addressed the constitutional position of local governments and the direct allocation of statutory funds to democratically elected councils.
Alao-Akala expressed satisfaction with what she described as a turning point for Oyo State, saying she was happy that change had finally come to the state.
“I’m happy that change has finally come to Oyo State,” she stated.
Calls for collective support for APC candidates
Beyond local government autonomy, the former First Lady used the occasion to call for unity and collective support for the APC candidates contesting elections at different levels in the 2027 electoral cycle.
She expressed confidence in the party’s prospects and predicted victories for its candidates in the National Assembly, presidential, governorship and State Assembly elections.
She specifically urged supporters to rally behind Alli, whom she referred to as the party’s governorship candidate, while encouraging them to work together towards the party’s electoral ambitions.
“Come by January, also the National Assembly will win too, the President will win, and in February, our candidate, our governor, Sharafadeen Alli Abiodun, will win, and all State Assembly members too,” she said.
She concluded her message with an appeal for unity, urging party members and supporters to work together towards the political objectives she had outlined.
“So let’s all come together to do this. Thank you,” she added.
Her remarks reflect the political support being expressed by party figures and supporters ahead of the 2027 elections. However, the victories she predicted remain electoral expectations expressed in her goodwill message, not established outcomes.
Local government autonomy and the 2027 political debate
Alao-Akala’s emphasis on local government autonomy introduces an important governance issue into the political conversation ahead of the Oyo State governorship election.
Beyond campaign declarations, the question for political parties and candidates is how local government councils would be empowered to perform their constitutional responsibilities while maintaining transparency and accountability.
For residents, the practical significance of autonomy will be reflected in whether local councils can respond more effectively to community needs, undertake development projects, maintain public facilities and deliver services without unnecessary administrative or financial restrictions.
Her reference to the late Otunba Alao-Akala also draws attention to the continuing place of grassroots governance in Oyo State’s political history and the debate over how local government administration should function within the state’s democratic structure.
As the 2027 election approaches, the position of political parties on local government autonomy, alongside their proposals for education, healthcare, infrastructure and economic development, is likely to remain an important issue for public scrutiny.
Alao-Akala’s goodwill message therefore combined an endorsement of local government autonomy with a call for political unity behind the APC’s candidates, particularly Senator Alli’s governorship ambition.
