Focus on State Elections and Governance, Experts Urge

As political activities heat up for the 2027 elections, two political and civil society leaders are urging more scrutiny of governorship candidates. They want to know how these candidates plan to handle increased federal funds and tackle insecurity in their states.

The three guests on African Independent Television's Kakaaki programme were Austin Aigbe from the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Patrice Akwara of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, and Maxwell Igbokwe, chairman of the Accord Party in the South-east. They spoke on Tuesday morning, and their views were reported by PREMIUM TIMES.

The guests called for voters, civil society groups, and the media to focus more on state elections. They believe that the presidential race should not overshadow the important issues at the state level.

They pointed out that governors now have more financial resources. So, they should explain how they plan to use these funds to improve living conditions for their people.

Mr Akwara noted that the rise in federal allocations should make citizens more aware of what governors do with the money. He argued that while many Nigerians blame the federal government for economic problems, state governments also need to be held accountable for their actions and policies.

He said, "Political discussions have mostly focused on the presidency, leaving state governors with little public scrutiny before the governorship elections." Akwara urged civil society and the media to shift attention to state governments and press governors to clarify their plans and promises.

He added, "It seems we don't have enough discussions about holding state governors accountable. Most governors are enjoying it. Can I say they are on holiday while all eyes are on the presidency?"

Mr Igbokwe also criticized governors for not using increased public funds to fight poverty and unemployment. He questioned the focus on building roads and bridges, saying these projects do not necessarily help the poor.

He asked, "If a governor is building flyovers and bridges, does that put food on the table for a poor man? No." He challenged state governments to create job plans and reduce poverty instead of just building infrastructure.

The discussion touched on how ready opposition parties are for the 2027 governorship and state assembly elections. Mr Aigbe questioned whether these parties were doing enough to challenge current governors. He said many political figures seem to rely on their parties' popularity nationally instead of gaining support locally.

He warned that if voters keep backing the same party across different government levels, it could hurt competition in state elections. Aigbe said, "After the 2023 elections, we saw people switching parties to get to the center. That's why I find it challenging to believe opposition parties can show us a path if the incumbents are not performing."

He pointed to the 2015 general elections as an example of how national political momentum can impact state elections, with candidates benefiting from their parties' presidential candidates.

Yet, Aigbe cautioned that opposition parties should not think that public discontent with governors will automatically lead to votes for them. He criticized the growing focus on national elections, which he believes neglects state and local elections.

He said this trend could weaken democracy and lessen citizens' involvement in governance at lower levels. Mr Akwara agreed, saying the NDC is working to strengthen its structures and hold the government accountable.

He urged mainstream media to pay more attention to state politics. He pointed out that many communities face governance issues that often go unnoticed.

The guests also discussed the proposed state police. They shared concerns about how governors might misuse power over these new security bodies. Mr Igbokwe is against the idea of state police under current political conditions. He believes that governors already have too much power.

He described some governors as "emperors" who control lawmakers and local leaders. He warned that giving them control over state police could lead to more power concentration.

He said, "If they decide you will leave, you will. If they decide you will die tomorrow, you will die." He highlighted the dangers of letting governors control state police.

In contrast, Mr Akwara stated that since many state assemblies back the idea, governorship candidates should explain how they intend to manage the security structure. He wants candidates to present clear security plans that will address the growing insecurity in the country.

Akwara encouraged civil society to lead conversations about how state police would function and what measures would stop governors from misusing their powers.

Mr Aigbe noted that civil society has raised concerns about the state police proposal before. He argued that the focus on state police should also consider fiscal and resource federalism.

The guests agreed that the 2027 elections need more public focus. But they had different opinions on how prepared opposition parties are and the dangers of state-controlled policing.