We must ensure transparent conduct of LG elections, says Abbas

Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, has described the conduct of local government elections in the country as “disgraceful”. 

Abbas spoke in Abuja on Monday at the national dialogue on local government and constitution amendment.

Represented by Benjamin Kalu, his deputy, Abbas said local governments, being the closest to the people, have a vital role in delivering services, promoting community development, and ensuring citizens’ voices are heard at all levels of governance.

Abbas said for local governments to function effectively, they must have a certain level of autonomy that enables them to respond promptly and appropriately to the specific needs of their communities.

“One of the most pressing issues we must deal with is the poor quality of elections into local government councils across our states,” he said.

“This situation not only undermines the very essence of democracy but also raises serious concerns about the integrity and functionality of our local governance structures.

“When elections are characterised by a lack of competitiveness — wherein the ruling party sweeps all positions — it becomes evident that we are witnessing a mockery of democratic principles.

“This scenario is not merely an embarrassment, it poses a significant threat to our democracy. It fosters an environment where undesirable elements infiltrate these councils, often lacking the necessary capacity and vision to govern effectively.

“Consequently, local governments have become mere appendages of state governments or pawns in the hands of so-called godfathers who manipulate political outcomes for their gain.

“The recent supreme court judgment mandating the conduct of elections into the councils and direct disbursement of funds to them has provided a significant legal framework that supports the autonomy and functionality of local governments across the country.

“This landmark decision is a testament to our collective commitment to uphold democratic principles at all levels of governance.

“However, while we celebrate these advancements, we must also acknowledge that the need for comprehensive reform has never been more urgent as some of the nagging issues persist.

“Importantly, we must confront the disgraceful and poor conduct elections into the councils. We must find a way of instilling transparency, fairness and openness in the conduct of elections in local governments. Doing this would require the understanding and collaborative efforts of the State governors and houses of assembly.

“We must find a way of convincing them that a strengthened local government system would relieve the States of unnecessary burdens and lead to grassroots development.”

Abbas said constitutional reforms are essential to addressing the challenges facing the local governments.

The speaker said the advocacy for “greater financial autonomy” for local governments must continue to ensure that they get adequate funding directly from federal allocations without excessive state control.

He said inadequate funding remains one of the most significant obstacles to local government administration, noting that they operate on budgets that are “insufficient to meet their responsibilities”.

“This financial constraint limits their ability to deliver essential services such as education, healthcare, infrastructure development, and sanitation. As a result, many communities continue to suffer from poor living conditions and lack access to basic amenities,” he said.

Abbas said more mechanisms must be explored to empower local governments with decision-making authority over their affairs.

Over the years, the conduct of local government elections by various state independent electoral commissions (SIECs) has been fraught with controversies, as ruling parties in the states often dominate the polls, winning almost all available seats.

In 2020, Mike Igini, resident electoral commissioner of Akwa Ibom state at the time, said local government elections in Nigeria are “nothing but organised crime”.

“Local government elections are nothing but organised crime. They should not be calling them elections at all. They are nothing but coronation ceremonies that we have across Nigeria,” he said.

In March, Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, proposed that SIECs should be scrapped.

Fagbemi recommended that the powers of SIECs should be transferred to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).