Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, has described the Federal Government’s N22.15 billion allocation for the construction and renovation of 106 palaces in the 2026 Appropriation Act as unconstitutional, accusing President Bola Tinubu of attempting to assume powers not granted by the Nigerian Constitution.
The position was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, in reaction to the palace projects captured in the 2026 budget.
According to Atiku, the 1999 Constitution does not assign the Federal Government responsibility for constructing or renovating palaces belonging to traditional institutions, insisting that such matters fall within the jurisdiction of state and local governments.
“President Tinubu swore an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, not to amend it through the Appropriation Act. Traditional institutions are matters within the constitutional competence of state and local governments.
