On a warm afternoon in Lagos, an important conference on local government election sensitisation took place, convened by Eromosele ‘Eromz’ Adene. This conference attracted prominent figures like Adelanke Aremo, a senior legal adviser at SERAP, Honorable Rasaq Ajala, the Executive Chairman of Ojuwoye LCDA, Morris Monye, a well-known social media and youth influencer, and Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, a former governorship candidate. The theme of the gathering revolved around the need for millennials and Gen Z to give greater attention to local government elections, which are often overlooked in comparison to their more glamorous counterparts—federal and state elections.
Local government elections are a critical yet underappreciated pillar of democracy. They serve as the first point of interaction between citizens and governance, operating at the grassroots level to handle the day-to-day needs of communities. Yet, voter turnout and interest in these elections are significantly lower, especially among younger generations. The speakers at this conference highlighted why this trend needs to change, especially in the current political state.
Mr Eromz believes we’re all influencers in our way, and when it comes to local elections, we’ve got the power to make waves. He caught the government’s attention during the #EndSARS protests, landing on a watchlist after being arrested, and being eventually released after a series of trending hashtags pressuring the government to let him go. But did that stop him? Nope! Mr. Eromz doubled down, using his social media account to call for transparency and keep the heat on accountability. He’s on a mission to show us all why local elections matter, and how we can make our voices heard.
The conference kicked off with Mr Eromz addressing the audience, shedding light on the financial aspect of local governance. He emphasized that Nigeria’s 774 local governments receive substantial monthly allocations, ranging from 400 to 600 million Naira—a significant amount of money. Despite this, voter participation in local elections remains low, and Mr. Eromz stressed the importance of increasing civic engagement. He also highlighted the urgent need for electoral reform to make local government elections more transparent and effective. Historically, these elections have been plagued by irregularities, including voter suppression and manipulation of results, undermining the credibility of the process.
Other speakers, including Adelanke Aremo, Joshua Osiyemi, and Morris Monye, brought an interesting perspective to the conversation on the “Influencers Shaping The Narrrative” panel, by highlighting a major issue: many young people simply don’t know what local government officials do. This lack of awareness is one reason for their disinterest in local elections. They stressed the importance of voter education, pointing out how local governments directly impact everyday life—from fixing roads to providing clean water. Knowing this, they said, is key to boosting voter turnout.
Another fun yet critical point they made was the importance of attending town planning meetings. These gatherings are not just for older folks or political insiders, but for everyone who wants good governance. Adelanke Aremo highlighted that local government chairmen are excluded from the immunity provided by Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution. This means they are not protected from being investigated or probed for the mismanagement of public funds while in office. Furthermore, Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, alongside Article 9 of the African Charter, grants citizens the right to access information. Want better social amenities or improved infrastructure in your community? It starts by being present and making sure your voice is heard.
The speakers encouraged the youth to take charge, because the more we engage, the more we can shape our surroundings. To further change the narrative, youth influencer Morris Monye plans on starting the citizens engagement initiative which will help the citizens know the people in office and know their rights. The ripple effect will have citizens asking for transparency and enforcement of their rights.
After a quick break to network and ask a few questions, the next panel had Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and Honorable Rasaq Ajala who noted that millennials and Gen Z make up a significant portion of the Nigerian electorate but tend to focus on presidential and gubernatorial elections, often disregarding the local government polls. These younger generations are passionate about systemic change, but they may not realize that such change starts from the bottom. “You can’t build a house without laying a strong foundation,” Gbadebo said, “and local government is the foundation of the larger democratic structure.”
Honourable Rasaq pointed out that he operates an open-door policy and encourages people to seek accountability and be aware of the needed infrastructures that fall within the local government’s capacity. He acknowledged the people’s grievances and promised that the LGs would do better to make life easier for them.
The local government election sensitization conference in Lagos was the first of its kind, and it highlighted the urgent need for millennials and Gen Z to become more involved in grassroots politics. By participating in local elections, young people can ensure that their communities are well-governed and that their daily needs are met. As the speakers at the event stressed, change begins at the grassroots, and local government is the foundation of a strong democratic system. To build the future they want, young Nigerians must engage with governance at every level, starting with the one closest to home.
Thank you for being part of this community. If you are passionate about driving change through youth empowerment, and workshops, send us an email to info@insidesuccessnigeria.com. Find more related articles on our website. Kindly subscribe to our website and follow us on our Instagram @ insidesuccessnigeria to get more updates.
Leave a Reply