The exercise of state’s right in the laboratory of democracy has been a failure in Nigeria.

Most states governors have sacked elected local governments and appointed caretaker committees answerable to the governor rather than the people.

These actions are in clear violations of the constitution. The various Houses of Assemblies have proved to be incompetent custodians of people’s rights against the non checked powers of their governors.

The judiciary has proved itself to a toothless guardian also. It’s been retreating from allowing legal challenges under the pretext of locus standi. This common law principle of having to establish a personal interest worthy of protection before you seek relief is a bar to legal development in Nigeria.

If an election is not held in your local such a decision does not affect your personal legal right hence the limited check on the actions of the governors.

Democratic laboratory must be at the local government level to water the tree of representative democracy in Nigeria. It will bring government closer to the people.

http://www.clgf.org.uk/default/assets/File/Country_profiles/Nigeria.pdf