Local council polls make mockery of democracy, Abbas says

• We can’t decide for you, UK tells Nigeria

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has described local government elections in the country as a mockery of democratic principles.

The speaker said the recently conducted local polls, where the ruling party won all positions, not only undermined the very essence of democracy, but also raised serious concerns about the integrity and functionality of local governance structures.

Abbas raised the concerns, yesterday, in Abuja at the National Dialogue on Local Government and Constitution Amendment organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review, led by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu.

Abbas, represented by Kalu, observed that one of the most pressing issues that must be dealt with was the poor quality of elections into local government councils across states.

According to him, when elections are characterised by a lack of competitiveness where the ruling party sweeps all positions, “it becomes evident that we are witnessing a mockery of democratic principles.”

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

The speaker lamented that local governments had become mere appendages of state governments or pawns in the hands of godfathers, who manipulate political outcomes for their own gain

Stressing that inadequate funding remained one of the most significant obstacles, he observed that local governments often operated on budgets not insufficient to meet their responsibilities.

Abbas applauded efforts made by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in strengthening the local government system, adding that the recent Supreme Court judgment mandating the conduct of elections into the councils and direct disbursement of funds to them, had provided a significant legal framework supporting the autonomy and functionality of local governments across the country.

He said the landmark decision was a testament to “our collective commitment to uphold democratic principles at all levels of governance”.

In his remarks, Development Director for the British High Commission in Nigeria, Cynthia Rowe, said the UK government could not decide for Nigeria on local government autonomy.

Rowe said: “Local governance is very much about the best way of delivering essential services for people. It is about enabling people to put food on their plates, to access clean water, to get health care, to get education for their families, and, of course, about economic opportunities that are within the reach of all citizens, and even for those who are in a better position in life, it is about the same thing.”