CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN NIGERIA

AN APPRAISAL OF THE CARETAKER COMMITTEE PRACTICE IN ANAMBRA STATE, 2006 – 2013

Abstract

This study interrogates the local government caretaker committee system in Anambra State (2006-2013) and its implications for constitutional democracy. We predicated our analysis on Democratic Participatory Theory, and adopted the survey research design. The study employed both the primary and secondary methods of data collection, while descriptive statistical method was utilized for the analysis of data. The study conducted field survey in two universities in Anambra State. administered elite questionnaire on academic staff totalling 404; and analysed the data generated through the aid of SPSS software. The choice of the age bracket and occupation for the study was influenced by our quest to select respondents who are conversant with the dynamics of constitutional democracy, and its relationship with the local government caretaker committee system in Anambra State (2006-2013). Essentially, we discovered that the absence of democratically elected local government councils in Anambra State within the period under study was contrary to section 7 (1) of the 1999 constitution. We equally discovered that the non-conduct of local government elections in the state, within the same period, hampered citizens’ political participation at the grassroots. Consequently, the study recommends, among other things, that governmental powers should be exercised in accordance with the constitution