A young political analyst in Ibarapa area of Oyo State, Adenekan Joshua has charged the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the national assembly on full implementation of local government autonomy.
Adenekan who made his open letter available to our correspondent on Monday, encouraged the federal government to recognize the havoc caused by electoral fraud and disenfranchisement in most states, admonished to take concrete steps to address these issues.
The letter cited the council election in Oyo State as a case study, which acknowledged Governors’ control over local government chairmen, undermining autonomy, urging the leadership of President Tinubu to implement measures to prevent this.
Here is the detailed open letter as made available to our reporter;
“LG AUTONOMY: OPEN LETTER TO TINUBU, FGN AND HOUSE INEC COMMITTEE AND ELECTORAL MATTERS CHAIRMEN, SENATOR SHARAFADEEN ALLI, AND HON. ADEBAYO OLUSEGUN RESPECTIVELY: Oyo State, a Case Study.
—ADENEKAN A. JOSHUA
The law, a complex and intricate entity, guides our society, culture, citizens, and government. Its enactment is a testament to its significance in our daily lives. Thankfully, Nigeria’s laws are not unnecessarily draconian, thanks to the care and diligence of the Judiciary and Legislature.
On a lighter note, popular opinion can be rendered as advice to Law-Makers and Law-Amenders, specifically elected Senators and House of Representative Members. Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli and Hon. Adebayo Olusegun, chairs of the Electoral Commission committees, play pivotal roles in addressing the poor local government election system.
Nigeria, a country with immense potential, has been plagued by policies that prioritize short-term gains over long-term progress. However, the current administration’s Renewed Hope agenda offers a glimmer of hope. A radical step towards actualizing this hope is dissolving State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIEC), which governors manipulate to appoint loyalists as local government chairmen.
The recent Makinde-OYSIEC influenced 2024 election in Oyo State is a stark example. His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde manipulated the election through appointed aides, appointing loyalists as chairmen of all local governments. This blatant disregard for democratic principles disenfranchises citizens.
Not just in Oyo, and so, allowing governor-influenced SIEC elections to persist will neutralize the Federal Government’s and National Assembly’s efforts on Local Government Autonomy. The Federal Government cannot claim victory until SIEC and their fraudulently selected local government chairmen are dissolved.
Below, I highlight my advice to the Federal Government, National Assembly, and relevant committees:
1. Recognize the havoc caused by electoral fraud and disenfranchisement, and take concrete steps to address these issues.
2. Acknowledge governors’ control over local government chairmen, undermining autonomy, and implement measures to prevent this.
3. Mandate the dissolution and cancellation of State Electoral Committees with immediate effect.
4. Establish an Independent National Committee to conduct new elections in all 36 states by December 2025.
5. Ensure local government representatives genuinely reflect citizens’ choices, reducing governors’ influence and promoting democratic principles.
Penultimately, dissolving SIEC and fraudulent local government chairmen is crucial. I urge the Federal Government and National Assembly to take decisive action.
Once again, allowing governor-influenced SIEC elections to persist will undermine Local Government Autonomy. The Federal Government must prioritize democratic integrity.
Sincerely,
ADENEKAN A. JOSHUA”
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