ADC Candidate Pressures Sokoto Governor for Financial Disclosure Ahead of 2027 Polls

Manir Dan’iya, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) gubernatorial hopeful in Sokoto State, has called on Governor Ahmed Aliyu to make public his administration's financial records. Dan’iya specifically requested a comprehensive breakdown of all revenues generated and expenditures incurred by the state government from May 2023 to September 2026. He argued that such transparency is crucial for the citizens of Sokoto to properly evaluate the governor's performance leading up to the 2027 general elections, emphasizing that the government must first account for public funds before expecting opposition parties to showcase their accomplishments.

This demand from the ADC candidate came via a statement released on Sunday by his media aide, Aminu Abdullahi. It directly addresses Governor Aliyu’s recent assertion that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would leverage the achievements of his government for its 2027 re-election campaign. PUNCH Online previously reported that Governor Aliyu, speaking at the Sokoto Government House following Friday’s Jumu’ah prayer, dared opposition parties to campaign on their own track records instead of engaging in personal attacks. The governor had expressed strong belief that his administration’s focus on 'people-oriented projects' would naturally garner support during the upcoming election period.

While Dan’iya endorsed the idea of issue-focused campaigns, he maintained that a true assessment of the governor's performance is only possible if the state government reveals its financial inflows and outflows. He quoted, stating, “Governor Aliyu should tell the people of Sokoto how much his government has received from the Federation Account from May 2023 to September 2026, how much it has generated internally, and how much has been spent.” Dan’iya further emphasized, “Tell us how much you have received before asking the people to judge what you have done with it.”

The ADC candidate further urged Governor Aliyu to furnish detailed financial accounts for all 23 local government areas within Sokoto State for the specified period. This includes specifics on their monthly Federation Account allocations, internally generated revenues, statutory deductions, and spending on public services. Dan’iya elaborated that presenting these financial details, along with project costs, contractor identities, execution timelines, and proof of project completion, would empower residents to evaluate the performance of both state and local governments using verifiable data.

Beyond the financial figures, Dan’iya raised questions about the real-world impact of the administration’s expenditures on the lives of Sokoto residents. He highlighted ongoing issues such as insecurity, education standards, healthcare access, water supply, workers' welfare, unemployment rates, and the state of public infrastructure. He strongly advised the government to allow independent bodies to scrutinize projects where costs, implementation, or benefits have been disputed. Dan’iya stressed that claims of inflated project costs, unfinished work, or spending that yields no visible results must be thoroughly investigated using verifiable documents and through established accountability mechanisms.

Dan’iya asserted that evaluating the government's performance requires more than just publicizing new projects, awarding contracts, or releasing overall financial summaries. He advocated for a clear comparison between total revenue collected, funds spent, projects finalized, projects still in progress, and the services provided to various communities. He quoted, stating, “The same standard of accountability should apply to the state government and all 23 local government councils.” He further underscored that public funds are ultimately for the people and therefore require accounting methods that permit independent verification.

In conclusion, Dan’iya formally challenged Governor Aliyu to release a consolidated statement of revenue and expenditure for the period spanning May 2023 to September 2026. This statement, he specified, should itemize Federation Account receipts, internally generated revenue, other financial inflows, deductions, recurrent expenses, capital expenditures, and allocations disbursed to local governments. He contended that discussions leading up to the 2027 elections should be grounded in readily available records that citizens, journalists, auditors, and other public institutions can scrutinize. He articulated the fundamental questions citizens are asking: “The people of Sokoto are entitled to ask simple questions: How much money came in? Where did it go? Which projects were completed? What changed in the lives of the people?” The statement concluded with a pointed remark: “Before telling the opposition to present its record, tell the people how much you received and show them the evidence of what you delivered.”