Local government governance is essential for grassroots development, yet Nigerian governors have treated this tier as personal estates, limiting its autonomy. As advocates and scholars push for a change, local governments remain under the control of state governors, compromising democratic representation and local progress. This report explores recent council polls, the grip of governors on local governments, and the urgent need for reform.
The Importance of Local Government Autonomy
Local governments play a critical role in delivering essential services and addressing local needs due to their proximity to the people. However, since Nigeria’s democratic return in 1999, governors have resisted allowing local governments full autonomy, viewing them as extensions of their own political influence. This practice stifles the growth and responsiveness of local governments, denying them the chance to address issues affecting their communities independently.
The current constitutional structure places the responsibility for organizing local government elections under state electoral commissions, a setup that many argue enables governors to manipulate council elections to maintain party dominance. Scholars and local government advocates have repeatedly called for constitutional reform to grant full autonomy to local governments, stressing the importance of grassroots governance in fostering democracy.
Manipulation of Council Elections by State Governors
Council elections across Nigeria have become notorious for their lack of transparency, with state governors often wielding undue influence over electoral processes. In Edo State, for instance, the recent local government polls saw the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) sweeping all 18 chairmanship seats. This is despite the party’s noticeable decline in popularity, evidenced by its performance in the February 2023 national elections, where the PDP ranked third behind the Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A similar pattern is evident in states like Akwa Ibom, where the PDP dominated nearly all local council seats, and in Anambra, Adamawa, and Taraba, where ruling parties won overwhelmingly. This trend highlights how governors leverage state electoral commissions to secure local government seats for loyalists, ensuring continued control and influence, often to the detriment of fair representation and accountability at the grassroots.
Calls for Reform: Experts and Political Leaders Speak Out
Political scientists and leaders have voiced strong concerns about the lack of integrity in local council elections. Professor Tunde Adeniran, a political scientist and former Minister of Education, described the manipulation of local government polls as a “disaster,” advocating for a restructuring of the electoral process to restore credibility. He suggests that if state governors continue to hijack council elections, grassroots democracy will remain out of reach.
Jackson Ojo, a political analyst, emphasized the need for federal intervention, noting that local government elections were once conducted by a national electoral body before state-level control took over. He argues that only a national commission like INEC can ensure impartial elections, thereby preventing the abuse of state power in local governance. Both Adeniran and Ojo agree that reforming council polls is crucial to protecting democracy at the grassroots level.
The Need for Legislative Intervention
Many stakeholders advocate for legislative reform to address the recurring issues with local government elections. House of Representatives member Alhassan Ado-Doguwa recently called on INEC to take over local council elections to enhance transparency. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, echoed similar sentiments, urging the federal parliament to enact laws empowering INEC to conduct these elections and restore democratic integrity.
In response, other voices, such as Rufus Aiyenigba of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), have suggested judiciary involvement to enforce local government autonomy. Aiyenigba emphasizes that direct allocation of funds to local councils could curb the financial dependency that often forces local governments to align with state governors. As discussions about legislative and judicial interventions continue, the consensus remains: empowering local governments is vital for democratic progress and sustainable development in Nigeria.
Local government governance is essential for grassroots development, yet Nigerian governors have treated this tier as personal estates, limiting its autonomy. As advocates and scholars push for a change, local governments remain under the control of state governors, compromising democratic representation and local progress. This report explores recent council polls, the grip of governors on local governments, and the urgent need for reform.
The Importance of Local Government Autonomy
Local governments play a critical role in delivering essential services and addressing local needs due to their proximity to the people. However, since Nigeria’s democratic return in 1999, governors have resisted allowing local governments full autonomy, viewing them as extensions of their own political influence. This practice stifles the growth and responsiveness of local governments, denying them the chance to address issues affecting their communities independently.
The current constitutional structure places the responsibility for organizing local government elections under state electoral commissions, a setup that many argue enables governors to manipulate council elections to maintain party dominance. Scholars and local government advocates have repeatedly called for constitutional reform to grant full autonomy to local governments, stressing the importance of grassroots governance in fostering democracy.
Manipulation of Council Elections by State Governors
Council elections across Nigeria have become notorious for their lack of transparency, with state governors often wielding undue influence over electoral processes. In Edo State, for instance, the recent local government polls saw the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) sweeping all 18 chairmanship seats. This is despite the party’s noticeable decline in popularity, evidenced by its performance in the February 2023 national elections, where the PDP ranked third behind the Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A similar pattern is evident in states like Akwa Ibom, where the PDP dominated nearly all local council seats, and in Anambra, Adamawa, and Taraba, where ruling parties won overwhelmingly. This trend highlights how governors leverage state electoral commissions to secure local government seats for loyalists, ensuring continued control and influence, often to the detriment of fair representation and accountability at the grassroots.
Calls for Reform: Experts and Political Leaders Speak Out
Political scientists and leaders have voiced strong concerns about the lack of integrity in local council elections. Professor Tunde Adeniran, a political scientist and former Minister of Education, described the manipulation of local council polls as a “disaster,” advocating for a restructuring of the electoral process to restore credibility. He suggests that if state governors continue to hijack council elections, grassroots democracy will remain out of reach.
Jackson Ojo, a political analyst, emphasized the need for federal intervention, noting that local council elections were once conducted by a national electoral body before state-level control took over. He argues that only a national commission like INEC can ensure impartial elections, thereby preventing the abuse of state power in local council. Both Adeniran and Ojo agree that reforming council polls is crucial to protecting democracy at the grassroots level.
The Need for Legislative Intervention
Many stakeholders advocate for legislative reform to address the recurring issues with local council elections. House of Representatives member Alhassan Ado-Doguwa recently called on INEC to take over local council elections to enhance transparency. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, echoed similar sentiments, urging the federal parliament to enact laws empowering INEC to conduct these elections and restore democratic integrity.
In response, other voices, such as Rufus Aiyenigba of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), have suggested judiciary involvement to enforce local council autonomy. Aiyenigba emphasizes that direct allocation of funds to local councils could curb the financial dependency that often forces local council to align with state governors. As discussions about legislative and judicial interventions continue, the consensus remains: empowering local council is vital for democratic progress and sustainable development in Nigeria.
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