By Stephen Klanzama, The Kukah Centre
The July 11, 2024 landmark judgment on local government financial autonomy stirred a wave of optimism across Nigeria. For many, it signalled a long-awaited breakthrough: the promise that democracy’s dividends would finally trickle down to the grassroots, unfiltered by state-level control. The judgment freed local governments to manage their finances independently, without the meddling hand of state governors. But financial freedom alone doesn’t guarantee democratic progress—equally crucial is the political culture in which leaders rise to power.
True autonomy is not simply about controlling the purse strings. It’s about creating a political environment where elections are inclusive, transparent, and credible—where the grassroots can elect leaders who genuinely represent them. The question is: do our local government elections live up to this ideal?
The outcomes of the recent LG elections fall short of our hopes for a more diverse and inclusive political landscape. The sweep by ruling parties across multiple states tells a familiar story—one of political consolidation and dominance, even at the expense of the will of the people. In September 2024, elections were held in Kwara, Imo, and Anambra states. Like many other citizens, I had hoped that local government autonomy would open the door for broader political participation, giving other political parties a chance to represent the people at the grassroots.
Instead, we saw a spectacle of one-party dominance. In Kwara, the All Progressives Congress (APC) claimed all 16 local government areas (LGAs). Anambra’s All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) followed suit, securing all 28 chairmanship seats. And in Imo, the APC again swept the board, winning all 27 LGAs.
These results send a clear message: LG elections in Nigeria remain instruments for consolidating power—whether for personal or party gain. It feels like a subtle variant of state capture, a situation where political elites bend the democratic process to suit their interests, often at the expense of the public good.
October 2024 will see another round of elections in eight states. So far, the pattern persists. In Jigawa, the APC once again swept the board. In Akwa Ibom, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won 30 out of 31 LGAs. Rivers State presents a more complex case where the Action People’s Party (APP)—a relatively small party—surprisingly secured 22 out of the 23 LGA seats. Yet even this victory comes amid rumours of the Governor’s influence, who allegedly exerted his influence to counter the structure of his current political arch-rival, a former governor of the state and the current Minister of the FCT.
This relentless political dominance leaves little space for opposition voices and diminishes the vibrancy of grassroots democracy. Ruling parties seem to wield their influence like a hammer, flattening any hopes for genuine competition. It’s a troubling trend—one that raises serious questions about the viability of local government autonomy in a political context where governors wield undue influence over local elections. How autonomous can local governments truly be if their elections are shaped by the will of state powerbrokers?
But not all hope is lost. A decentralised, citizen-driven approach to improving the internal democracy of political parties, building the capacity of the State Independent Election Commissions (SIECs), and improving citizens’ awareness could strengthen democratic processes at the local level. Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) can push for a political culture where elections are not just about power but about people and autonomy is more than just a legal framework, but a lived reality.
