POLITICAL INTERFERENCE AND TRADITIONAL KINGSHIP CRISIS IN TAKUM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF TARABA STATE
Keywords:
political interference, traditional kingship, chieftaincy crisis, democratic governance, ethnic politics, communal conflictAbstract
The institution of traditional kingship in Nigeria has historically served as a critical pillar of community governance, social cohesion, and cultural identity. In post-colonial northern Nigerian states, however, the constitutional repositioning of traditional rulers as non-governmental actors has created conditions in which chieftaincy institutions are simultaneously more vulnerable to political interference and less legally protected from executive pressure. This study investigates the nature, mechanisms, and consequences of political interference in traditional kingship in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State. Using a qualitative case study design anchored in 24 in-depth interviews with traditional rulers, community leaders, politicians, civil society actors, and state officials, the study identifies four primary mechanisms of political interference: partisan manipulation of chieftaincy appointment processes; strategic use of de-recognition powers by the executive; instrumentalisation of inter-dynastic disputes for electoral mobilisation; and judicial obstruction in chieftaincy litigation. The findings reveal that political interference has produced a self-reinforcing legitimacy crisis in which traditional rulers are perceived as political appointees rather than community leaders. This erodes the conflict mediation capacity of traditional institutions at a moment when Taraba State faces acute security and development challenges. The paper argues for structural reforms that separate chieftaincy from partisan politics while preserving the constitutional roles of traditional institutions in community governance.References
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