{
  "id": 7044081,
  "title": "CRIPPLING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/crippling-the-local-governments",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-13T02:34:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/09/13/crippling-the-local-governments/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Local governments in Nigeria are severely compromised, according to the 1999 Constitution. The State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) are responsible for conducting elections to local government councils, but the process has been plagued by irregularities. Governors consistently rig elections to favor their political parties, and the resulting governments operate like personal fiefdoms. Despite numerous court rulings, this abuse of local governments has persisted for over two decades, leading to widespread decay at the grassroots level, insecurity, and social strife.\n\nIn the past three months alone, six states have held local government elections where the ruling party secured 100 percent victory. For example, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won all positions in Adamawa State's 21 local government areas on June 13, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) won all 18 chairmanship seats in Edo State on July 11. In Anambra, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) won all chairmanship seats in 21 local governments on August 29, followed by the Allied People’s Movement (APM) winning all 20 chairmanship seats in Bauchi State a week earlier.\n\nThe primary factors contributing to flawed elections include the lack of financial and operational independence for SIECs, according to Samson Itodo, the Executive Director of YIAGA Africa. This lack of autonomy allows state governors to interfere with SIEC operations and withhold necessary funds, undermining their ability to hold credible elections. These constitutional weaknesses prevent SIECs from protecting citizens' right to elect leaders who genuinely represent their will.\n\nThe consequences of this flawed electoral process are severe, as it has resulted in chronic underdevelopment of council areas. These areas are unable to provide basic social infrastructure, such as primary healthcare, education, feeder roads, and modern markets. Many Nigerians have called for constitutional reforms to give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the authority to conduct local government elections, citing INEC's success in conducting credible elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). However, despite a landmark Supreme Court ruling in July 2024 that ordered allocations from the federation account to be paid directly into individual local government accounts, the decision has yet to be implemented. The financial autonomy alone is insufficient to address the limited legitimacy, capacity problems, and corruption that plague the local council system. Urgent reforms are needed to ensure good governance at this critical level of government, including credible elections and genuine financial autonomy.",
  "summary": "Local governments must be sufficiently empowered to perform their duties Based on the 1999 Constitution, the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) are established by the respective State Houses of Assembly",
  "key_points": [
    "Local governments in Nigeria severely compromised by irregular elections.",
    "Ruling parties secure 100% victory in recent local elections.",
    "Lack of financial independence for SIECs allows governor interference."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}