The joke called LG elections

In recent weeks, we’ve witnessed a flurry of local government elections across Nigeria. Many of us had high hopes, especially after the supreme court granted autonomy to local governments a few months back.

The excitement was palpable – finally, an opportunity for grassroots development! But as the dust settles, it’s clear we’ve been served a familiar dish of disappointment, with a side of political chicanery.

Let’s not mince words: these elections have been nothing short of a farce. From north to south, it’s been the same old story – ruling parties in states sweeping the polls with a cleanliness that would make even the most fastidious housekeeper blush.

In Akwa Ibom, they tossed a local government to the All Progressive Congress(APC), presumably as a party favour to Senate President Godswill Akpabio. How generous of them! Benue, Jigawa, Ebonyi, Kwara, Imo, Sokoto, Anambra and Enugu? Same script, different cast.

But the real spectacle was in Rivers state. Here’s a political magic trick for you: the All Peoples Party, an outfit with about as much national structure as my grandmother’s knitting circle, somehow managed to win almost all the local governments. Their secret weapon? The backing of the state governor. Abracadabra, indeed!

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – for Nigeria to truly progress, we need quality leaders at all levels. The president alone can’t drag us to the promised land. It’s like expecting a single ox to pull a train – it’s not happening. We need good governance permeating every layer of government, from the lofty heights of Aso Rock down to the most humble local council.

When local government autonomy was announced, I was genuinely excited. I thought, “Finally! An opportunity for competent individuals to step up.” After all, with financial autonomy, being a local government chairman now looks more appetising than a seat in the house of representatives. It’s like being offered a sumptuous meal instead of a bag of stale chips.

But what did we get instead? The same old political fast food – quick, unsatisfying, and leaving a bad taste in our mouths.

The way these elections played out makes a mockery of the entire concept of local government autonomy. If governors can simply sit in their air-conditioned offices, play political chess with local government positions, and appoint their stooges as chairmen, why bother with the charade of elections? It’s like hosting a race where the winner is decided before the starting gun is fired.

This situation should send shivers down our spines, especially when we consider the calls for state police. If state electoral commissions dance so readily to the governors’ tunes, imagine the potential for abuse with state-controlled law enforcement. It’s a recipe for disaster that even the most adventurous political chef should avoid.

So, what’s the way forward? Some have suggested that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should take over local government elections. I’m inclined to agree. At least with INEC, we have a shot at something resembling a fair process. But let’s not kid ourselves – this is Nigeria, after all. Our politicians have an uncanny ability to find loopholes in even the most watertight systems. It’s like they have a Ph.D. in “Electoral Manipulation Studies.”

The sad truth is, no matter how well-intentioned our electoral bodies might be, our politicians always seem to find a way to game the system. It’s a national talent we should be far less proud of. We’re like escape artists, but instead of escaping from chains, we’re escaping from accountability and fair play.

This whole situation speaks volumes about our political culture. We’ve created a system where the concept of a free and fair election at the local level is as rare as snowfall in Lagos. It’s a damning indictment of our democratic process or lack thereof.

The irony is palpable. We claim to want development at the grassroots, yet we’ve turned local government elections into a political puppet show, with state governors pulling the strings. It’s as if we’re allergic to actual democracy at the local level.

We the people, aren’t blameless in this farce. Our collective shrug at these electoral shenanigans is part of the problem. We’ve become so accustomed to this political theatre that we barely raise an eyebrow when entire local governments are won without a single vote cast.

It’s like we’re watching a badly written soap opera, knowing the plot is ridiculous but tuning in anyway. The consequences of this joke we call local government elections are far-reaching. We’re stifling local initiatives, suffocating grassroots leadership, and essentially telling our communities, “Sorry, your voices don’t matter.” It’s a slap in the face to the very concept of representative democracy.

Moreover, this charade is breeding a dangerous level of cynicism among the populace. When people lose faith in the electoral process at the local level, it’s only a matter of time before that disillusionment spreads upwards. We’re cultivating a generation of citizens who view elections not as a democratic exercise, but as a predetermined outcome – a political game where the dice are always loaded.

So, where do we go from here? Handing over the reins to INEC might be a start, but it’s not a panacea. We need a complete overhaul of our political culture. We need to foster an environment where local leaders are accountable to their communities, not to state governors. We need to create systems that make it virtually impossible for any single entity to manipulate local elections.

But most importantly, we need to wake up. We, the people, need to refuse to be spectators in this political farce. We need to demand better, to call out these electoral charades for what they are, and to insist on genuine representation at the local level.

Until we do, these local government elections will remain what they are – a joke. But it’s a joke that’s costing us our democracy, our development, and our future. And that, my fellow Nigerians, is no laughing matter.