The various results of local council elections conducted over the past few months have clearly shown that we are not yet ready to allow democracy to thrive.
Results of such elections across the states always showed the ruling party triumphed over others notwithstanding the cries and protests. More noteworthy in the fact that the two leading parties are actively involved in this depending on which state they hold sway.
While the PDP cleared every chairman and councillor seat in Oyo, the APC ensured that a similar thing happened in Sokoto. The story is not different in other states. We expect similar outcomes in states yet to conduct council polls.
Another worrying trend is the fact that the process was usually marred with so much irregularity that the opposition candidates were only left to wonder where to begin.
The various state independent electoral commissions in all cases proved to be mere rubber stamps doing the bidding of the governor in power.
The abuse of due process often starts at the beginning as prospective candidates have to secure the approval of their state governors before they are allowed to contest. Thus democracy is stifled right from the party level.
Governors take this decision to ensure that they control the party structure in the state either for their re-election or ensuring that they impose a successor.
Following this untoward attitude, some opposition parties in some states were left with no option than to boycott the election.
Another outcome of this imposition is the voter apathy recorded in almost all the states where such elections were held. Many voters felt that the outcome of the election had been determined and would be a waste of time to cast their votes.
We at Daily Trust believe that the way to develop and ensure a vibrant democracy is when it is fully entrenched at the grassroots. It is only when ordinary Nigerians are allowed to elect their leaders who are closer to them and hold them to account then we will begin to see a fully grown democracy.
We believe that the benefit of the recent Supreme Court judgment on local council autonomy could only be achieved with independent managers of the councils. With this trend, the governors are sure to continue to control the finances of their councils.
Opposition parties are a necessary part of the democratic process that fact should not be lost on all responsible to ensure the entrenchment of democracy in our country. Therefore, the earlier we allow them to thrive at the grassroots the better for Nigeria.
It would also help nurture smaller parties that may not have the resources to participate in national elections. This may serve a grooming space for our youths wishing to venture into politics.
We at Daily Trust are calling on all the governors irrespective of political parties they belong to, as a matter of growing our democracy, to allow the opposition parties freely participate in the elections by way of freeing up the political space through the states’ independent electoral commission and allow democracy to strive at all levels.
We also believe it is time for a robust national debate on the role of state electoral commissions in conducting free and fair elections. Political leaders, activists, and CSOs have a role to play to ensure we entrench a vibrant democracy in our local councils.
More importantly, Nigerians must also be vigilant and fight against this dangerous trend which often robs them of their right to choose their leaders and hold them to account.
Politics is about freedom to choose among competing alternatives. Individuals have the liberty to belong to any political party they want and should feel free to do so without intimidation. Without opposition parties, the values of democracy are debased. Opposition political parties do not only serve as checks and balances on the ruling party; they provide alternative platforms for the electorate. Therefore, we should allow them to grow and prosper.
By doing this, we will be doing a great service to the growth and development of Nigeria.