Rights Groups Urge Governor Bago to Suspend LG Polls, Uphold Local Council Autonomy

A coalition of human rights advocates has called on Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, to suspend the planned local government elections in the state, urging him to instead prioritize the enforcement of constitutional autonomy for local councils.

The appeal comes amid growing national concerns about the illegal dissolution of elected local governments and the continued control of local council funds by state governments in violation of constitutional provisions and a recent Supreme Court judgment.

Speaking during a press briefing in Minna on Friday, the Chairman of the Human Rights and Judgement Enforcement Advocates, Barrister Mohammed Alfa, said the planned November 25 council elections would effectively truncate the tenure of the current elected local government officials, which is contrary to Section 108(1) of the Electoral Act 2022. He warned that such action would be “illegal, unconstitutional, and subject to judicial nullification.”

Alfa emphasized the need for the Niger State Government to lead by example in implementing the Supreme Court’s July 2024 ruling, which mandates direct allocation of funds from the Federation Account to local governments, bypassing state governments. He noted that more than eleven months after the judgment, most states have yet to comply.

“The autonomy of local governments is not a favour but a constitutional obligation. Any attempt to conduct elections without ensuring financial and administrative independence of the councils is a betrayal of the constitution and the people,” Alfa stated.

The group called on Governor Bago to immediately halt all preparations for the elections until necessary legal and structural reforms are put in place to guarantee full autonomy for the third tier of government.

Alfa also warned that the coalition would begin a mass mobilization campaign, including protests, across the 25 local government areas of the state if the government fails to respond positively by August 25.

As of the time of filing this report, the Niger State Government has not officially responded to the call.