FENRAD raises alarm: Local government elections undermine grassroots democracy

Stanley Ihedigbo

Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy, and Development (FENRAD) has expressed concern over the conduct of recent local government elections in Nigeria, citing the hijacking of grassroots structures by some governors.

According to the Executive Director, FENRAD, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, this development threatens the very foundation of democracy.

He noted: “Following the landmark judgment handed down by the Supreme Court on July 11, 2024, declaring the financial and political autonomy of the 768 local government councils in Nigeria, many welcomed the judgment as a doctrine of necessity, even though the judgment, in a sense, did not follow laid down constitutional norms.

“The basis for the judgment as a doctrine of necessity stems from the fact that over the years, state governments had maintained a tortuous grip on all local government councils, contravening Sections 7 and 8 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, which guarantee ‘democratic elections’ at the councils.

“As  a pro-democracy and environmental rights advocacy group in Abia State, we keenly followed all the local government elections conducted recently across some states in the federation following the 90-day moratorium the subnationals were able to devise with the government of the federation,” he emphasized.

He lamented the way some governors hijacked grassroots structures during the said elections in a bid to secure their political future come 2027 or to ensure that all the appurtenances and funds due the councils are retained in substantial parts by the state under the guise of some obnoxious ‘Executive Bills.’

“The Foundation, following this development, noted that the basis for grassroots democracy, which is the core of every democracy, has been badly ruptured, threatened, and further endangered.

“In all the said elections, the Foundation understands that only parties that are incumbent or those supported by incumbent governors cleared the polls across the councils and wards, even in places where some favoured political parties were hitherto unpopular and couldn’t stage or pull a surprise during the last election.

“In a bid to maintain a grip on all the councils, negative precedents were established, and the Supreme Court’s declaration was ‘voided’ or ‘vacated’.

“This further brings the foundation to Abia State. To beat the 90-day moratorium (set to elapse on November 4, 2024), the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) scheduled elections across the 17 councils and 184 wards in the state for Saturday, November 2, 2024. Like in other states, the schedule of election activities like campaigns, notices of election, publishing of voter registers, party primary elections, screening of candidates, and so on were done under the strictest conditions.

“Granted, the Abia Commission was pressed for time and managed to pull off the elections, albeit with limitations. However, the election aftermath changed the political landscape of the state with the emergence on the scene of a little-known party by the name of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

“While it is clear that the internal leadership tussle and problems plaguing the Labour Party, the governor’s party, may have birthed holy and unholy political alliances, the fact that the Fubara card was seemingly played in Abia could be creating a bad precedent for the future,” he explained.

The Human Rights Activist further said that Abians should ask: Why were people elected under different political parties and platforms being celebrated by the governors’ close aides, even when they belong to another party?

“What are the implications of this going forward? What justifies the fact that a known media aide to the governor in a Facebook post on his wall claimed the victory as ‘ours’ and went ahead to hail the governor’s ‘apostles’?

“The reason why the Foundation is concerned is because precedents, whenever created, gradually become a norm that is difficult to be done away with. What will Nigerians say if a similar attempt is made at the centre by the federal government to control state structures come 2027?

“Already, people have condemned the just-concluded Edo State gubernatorial election, blaming the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), law enforcement agencies, and the federal government for alleged manipulation and undue advantage.

“The point here is that each tier of government should be free from the control of the other, as each has its own sphere of influence and constitutional mandates. If the federal government sits on the states and the states on the councils, then an unbearable load has been put on the people at the grassroots.

“This is how the people become the actual losers when trends like this occur. Grassroots elections are aimed at making for inclusion, allowing those known by the locals to contest and win elections, thereby enthroning a system that suits the people’s milieux and cultural ethoses.

“Although there was pressure related to time on the part of ABSIEC, the elections did not go without hitches and issues related to logistics. In some units, elections began by 4:00 pm, as recorded in some parts of Umuahia.

“Even the governor voted late in his own unit. There were sundry allegations of violence in places like Ohafia, Obingwa, and the rest, though no life was reported to have been lost. While the laws are clear as to which road (in terms of trunk) each of the three tiers is expected to build, states like Anambara and Abia are passing laws that indirectly seek to tie local government funds together with those of the states.

“If trunk B roads are to be done by the state, while trunk C roads are to be done by the councils, then one wonders why there is a need to legislate a bill into law that guarantees rural road infrastructure projects. The Foundation recalls when, in a bid to tie Governor Otti’s hand, the last administration attempted to conduct elections at the local government councils while a lame duck.

The Foundation also wishes to put on record the statement credited to the governor in the Punch newspaper on November 2, 2024, where the governor admonished Abians to vote for people with a proven track record and not along party lines.

“They only pray that the sudden development does not breed future problems,” he stated.