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Democracy And The Politics Of Local Government Election In Nigeria

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Mudassir Aliyu Said

 

 

BY:

MUDASSIR ALIYU YUNUSA

mudassiray@gmail.com

 

Democracy is a political system of government in which people of a nation or a country are ruled base on the form they choose to establish through drafting a constitution guiding the conduct of the society.

 

Abraham Lincoln defines democracy as “the government of the people by the people for the people”. Therefore democracy has to do with popular sovereignty with the provision of law, order, welfare, and security to the citizens.

 

 

The most important feature of democracy is ELECTION, any political setup or political system without election will never be considered as a pure democracy.

 

The election is a legal way of choosing or selecting a leader through votes by people or groups of delegates vested with the power and authority to put in place and legitimizes individual(s) as a leader(s) in a governmental or nongovernmental organization.

 

It is also a procedure that allows members of an organization or community to choose somebody or some delegates to hold the position of authority to command and direct the affairs of the people.

 

The election also serves as another way through which citizens/electorates can evaluate and assess the viability and accountability of political leaders and or the activities of the government.

 

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The system of direct election is recognized and adopted in Nigeria where eligible voters are allowed to conduct elections through the casting of votes directly to individuals vying for a particular political office.

Nigeria adopted the Federal System of Government with Three (3) tiers of government i.e Federal, States and Local Governments. The local government is the third tier of Government that engaged in some appropriate developmental services.

 

The United Nation office for public administration defines Local government “as a political subdivision of a nation or state which is constituted by law and has substantive control of local affairs including the power to impose taxes or to extract labor for prescribed purposes. the governing body of Local government should be ELECTED…….”

Nigeria practices democracy as its political system where election used to take place periodically, but this I can say is only applicable to Federal and State entities, but in the case of local Governments, the election became voluntary and sometimes optional, this is obvious as the task to conduct polls into Local Government councils is mainly controlled by State Governors (code, conduct, exercise, and final result). This is purely unacceptable and against the provision of the constitution.

The provisions of Local Government Reform of 1976 even though done by the Military Government, nevertheless provided that the essence of Local Government is to facilitate the exercise of democratic self-governance to people directly in order to encourage initiative and leadership potentials; to mobilize human/material resources through the involvement of members of the public in their local affairs for self-development; and also to provide the channels of communication between local communities and governments (both Federal and States).

This entails bringing people closer to the government and allowing them to participate fully in their own affairs.

However, considering the initial rules that back the reform of the local government as well as the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, local government should be fully democratized with elected officials to govern the council in the most appropriate manner.

 

Another unconstitutional treatment done to Local Governments in many cases some of their functions has been hijacked and taken over by the State Governments.

 

It is important to note that in many cases even their financial aids from other sources and grants from the federal government are controlled by the state Governments, where the councils are only allowed to receive some meager amount mostly for their recurrent expenditures like payment of salaries/wages; miscellaneous and low overhead expenses. However, rather than allowing the credible elections to hold, State Governors prefer to appoint whoever they so wish to oversee the affairs of Local Government as CARETAKERS/SOLE ADMINISTRATORS with little or no portfolio and power to endorse and carry out some important developmental projects. The most annoying thing is that even where Local Government’s ELECTION holds it is usually involved so many irregularities, election malpractice in form of rigging, thuggery, the imposition of incompetent candidates as well as the use of power to intimidate voters mostly in favor of the ruling party in the state.

 

In some states, opposition parties are indirectly not allowed to participate honorably in Local Government’s Elections, because they were deliberately not allowed to secure or win a single seat (even a councillorship seat).

 

Local Governments’ elections in Kano (2014, 2017), Jigawa (2014), and some other States are typical examples. This clearly justifies the lack of free, fair, and credible election in our society especially at the local level where the masses are in majority and to be honest this will not allow the masses at the grassroots to benefit and enjoy the dividend of democracy which is the only political profits ought to be gained by the electorates.

 

 

I suggest that the conduct and exercise of local Government’s Election should be single-handedly carried out by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rather than States Electoral bodies, so as to disengage  State Governments from unconstitutional interference in Local Governments’ ELECTIONS.

 

 

I believe this will surely improve the level of credibility, acceptability, and the commitments attached to the third tier of government which in essence will provide social security, political fair play, and economic well-being.

Finally, As LOCAL GOVERNMENT’S ELECTION is set to hold next Saturday in KANO STATE, my hope to KANSIEC is to conduct free, fair, and credible elections, and my prayer is that each person elected would be suitable for the crown of leadership, very equal to the task and challenges of leadership and also ever ready to shoulder all the responsibilities attached to the office been elected upon.

 

MUDASSIR can be reached on mudassiray@gmail.com

08028188129

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Politics

200,000 APC Members in Kano Dismiss Allegations Against Ministerial Nominee Yusuf Abdullah Atta as Baseless

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Over 200,000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State have dismissed allegations of incompetence against the ministerial nominee, retired Hon. Yusuf Abdullah Atta, as baseless. Some APC members in Kano believe the allegations stem from personal grudges held by a few individuals who are not legitimate members of the party.

In a statement, Mustapha Gidan Magani, the secretary of APC Kwaciri Ward, on behalf of the entire executive committee of APC Fagge Local Government Area, rejected the allegations of anti-party activities during the 2023 general election. The executives argued that those intending to submit a petition to the Senate, claiming to represent 50,000 APC members, have no legal standing to make such claims.

The APC executives from Fagge Local Government Area are prepared to counter the petition, asserting that it will have little impact on the confirmation of Atta as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development. They expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for nominating Atta, highlighting his administrative skills and dedication to serving humanity.

 

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PDP Youth Activist Calls for Suspension of Shekarau, Bello Hayatu from the party

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Salisu Usman Karaskabuli, a youth activist of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano, has called for the immediate suspension of several high-ranking party members, including former governor Ibrahim Shekarau, Bello Hayatu Gwarzo, and Yahaya Bagobiri.

He accused them of sabotaging the party’s efforts in the state and hindering PDP’s progress in the region.

Addressing journalists in Kano, Salisu Karaskabuli alleged that Shekarau has engaged in anti-party activities during the 2023 governorship election.
“Despite being a PDP leader, the majority of his supporters backed the APC candidate,” Salisu Karaskabuli said.
He further claimed that Shekarau is already mobilizing his supporters to work for Senator Barau’s governorship ambitions in 2027, signaling ongoing disloyalty.

Salisu Karaskabuli also blamed the PDP National Vice Chairman for the Northwest Bello Hayatu Gwarzo for failing to unite the party across the region.
He noted that prominent PDP members, such as former governors Ibrahim Shema of Katsina and Ramalan Yero of Kaduna, had defected to other parties due to Gwarzo’s ineffective leadership.
Concerning the recent PDP congress in Kano, Usman expressed frustration, rejecting the outcomes of the ward, local government, and state congresses.
He accused the leadership of the party for partisan zoning and disqualifying candidates without valid reasons.

Further accusations were leveled at Yahaya Bagobiri, the chairman of PDP elders in Kano.
Salisu Usman claimed that Bagobiri had leaked sensitive party information to the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) leader Rabiu Kwankwaso.

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Usman Karaskabuli called on the national leadership of the PDP to investigate the accused members and, if found guilty, take appropriate disciplinary action.

The accusations come at a time when the PDP in Kano and the wider Northwest is grappling with internal divisions, which some fear could weaken the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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APC Youth Activist Urges President Tinubu to Appoint Murtala Sule Garo as Minister

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Sadiq Ali Sango

 

Sadiq Ali Sango, a prominent youth activist of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider appointing Murtala Sule Garo as a minister in the forthcoming cabinet reshuffle.
Sango made this known in a statement released to journalists in Kano.

The Federal Government recently announced that President Tinubu would soon reshuffle his cabinet, sparking widespread speculation over potential new appointees.
Sango expressed optimism that Garo, a grassroots politician with a proven track record, would be a fitting choice for a ministerial position.

“Murtala Sule Garo is not only a politician but a true son of the soil, with immense contributions to the APC in Kano,” Sango stated.
“His service as the APC’s deputy gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 election and his unwavering commitment to the party despite not having the reins of government in Kano makes him the ideal candidate for Tinubu’s cabinet.”

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Sango further highlighted Garo’s role in holding the party together during difficult times, describing him as the “supporting pillar” of the APC in Kano.
“He has carried the party on his shoulders, providing support to party leaders and members alike,” he added.

With the APC no longer in control of Kano State’s government, Garo’s influence at the grassroots level has been pivotal for the party’s continued strength in the region.
According to Sango, Garo’s appointment would reinforce the party’s position in Kano and contribute to the success of President Tinubu’s administration.

The call for Murtala Sule Garo’s inclusion in the Federal Executive Council comes amid growing anticipation regarding the composition of the new cabinet and the need for strong political figures to represent Kano at the national level.

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