GLITZ TV
Local government elections are intended to serve as the foundation for grassroots democracy, allowing citizens to choose their leaders and representatives at the community level. However, in recent times, state governors have manipulated these elections to serve their own interests, thereby undermining the democratic process. The disturbing trend has been observed in several states where governors have taken control of election outcomes, ensuring that only candidates from their parties are declared winners.
In states like Kwara, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Benue, recent local government elections have shown a clear disregard for due process. These elections, controlled by the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), have been marred by irregularities, lack of transparency, and widespread manipulation. The results always seem to favor the ruling party in the state, leaving little or no room for opposition voices to be heard.
State governors are influencing SIECs to announce pre-determined results, often without regard for the actual votes cast. In many cases, elections are conducted in an environment of intimidation, with opposition candidates harassed, disqualified, or prevented from participating. It is not uncommon to see election results being declared even before the counting of votes is completed, a clear indication of pre-arranged outcomes orchestrated by those in power.
One of the most alarming aspects of this manipulation is the consistent pattern of the ruling party in each state winning overwhelmingly, despite widespread evidence of electoral malpractice. In Kwara and Rivers, for instance, the conduct of the local government elections was plagued by irregularities, including ballot stuffing and falsification of results. In Akwa Ibom and Benue, citizens expressed their frustration over the lack of fairness and transparency in the process, which led to the overwhelming victory of the ruling party in these states. Such outcomes only deepen the distrust between the people and their leaders and further alienate the electorate from actively participating in the democratic process.
The manipulation of local government elections by state governors has made a mockery of Nigeria’s democracy and calls for urgent intervention. The National Assembly must pass legislation to transfer the responsibility of conducting local government elections from the SIECs to the National Independent Electoral Commission (INEC). This would ensure that local elections are conducted with greater transparency and fairness, and free from the undue influence of state governors. INEC, with its experience and established reputation, is better positioned to handle these elections impartially.
Handing over the responsibility for local government elections to INEC would create a uniform standard across the country and restore public confidence in the electoral process. The current system, which allows state governors to control SIECs, has led to a situation where local government elections are nothing more than a formality, designed to legitimize the stranglehold of governors on power at the grassroots level.
What we are witnessing today in Nigeria as local government elections is far from the democracy we claim to practice. It is a distortion of democratic values and a deliberate suppression of the people’s will. The National Assembly must rise to the occasion and ensure that the power to conduct these elections is taken away from state governors and placed in the hands of a truly independent body.
Local government elections should be an opportunity for citizens to freely choose their leaders based on performance, character, and capability. The current system, where governors dictate election results, defeats this purpose and erodes the essence of democracy. Nigeria cannot continue on this path if it hopes to build a strong and enduring democratic system. Now is the time for meaningful electoral reforms that will restore integrity and trust in our local government elections, allowing true democracy to flourish at the grassroots level.
Fabian Okwajie
Write from Calabar
