A Year After Autonomy: Evaluating the Performance of Local Governments in Kwara State Post-Supreme Court Electoral Enforcement

Abstract

Local governments in Nigeria have long operated under restrictive state control, with unelected caretaker committees undermining democratic legitimacy and grassroots service delivery. In 2023, the Supreme Court mandated states to conduct proper local government elections or risk losing federal allocations, a ruling widely viewed as a turning point for subnational governance. One year after this enforcement, however, the extent to which autonomy has produced substantive improvements remains uncertain. This study evaluates post-reform performance in three Kwara State LGAs: Ilorin Metropolis, Offa, and Moro. Drawing on a mixed-methods design and data from 400 respondents, the analysis shows that while elected councils are now in place, perceptions diverge sharply on electoral fairness and fiscal autonomy. Yet, broader governance outcomes appear relatively consistent across respondent groups. The findings suggest that autonomy, though symbolically significant, requires stronger institutional safeguards, transparent fiscal practices, and sustained civic oversight to translate electoral legitimacy into effective grassroots governance.