LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS AND ITS FAILURES UNDER NIGERIA CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY AND WAY FORWARD

Abstract

The creation of local governments in Nigeria is meant to support the locals on their budding future, in a platform purposely created for representation in the political administration of a State and the Federal Government. However, over the years the position, status and particularly the autonomy of the local government as a third tier government have been a concern. Nigerian constitutional provisions pertaining to local governments laid the basis for the unhealthy interference of the state governments over local government’s election and administration. This article critically examined the pertinent issues affecting local government elections, appraising the challenges to the success of democracy and democratic governance in Nigeria particularly at the local government level and the way forward. The article revealed that democracy in Nigeria especially at the local government level has not been impressive due largely to corruption, partisan politics, upper governmental interference, lack of local government autonomy, among others. The doctrinaire research methodology was adopted as the work examined the Nigerian Constitution and other legal framework pertaining to local governments elections in Nigeria. The article concluded that the challenges of democracy in Nigerian local government are both attitudinal and institutional as it has been established that state governors are the major impeding factors against democracy at the local level. The article therefore, recommended, among others, for a constitutional amendment aimed at freeing the local government system from the control of the state with regards to their elections, powers and functions. In addition, the fight against corruption should be stretched to the local government areas while Local government officials are made accountable to the local residence.