From Policy to People: How Local Government Reforms Redefined Political Engagement in Kaduna State

The political beat in 2025 was largely shaped by governance reforms, party consolidation, grassroots mobilisation and preparations for future electoral contests.

As the Kaduna State correspondent of National Accord, my reporting throughout the outgoing year focused on how political decisions and power dynamics at the state and local government levels directly affected governance, peace, and development.

Kaduna State provided a rich political environment where policy actions, not just political statements, defined the news agenda.

A major factor that shaped political activities in Kaduna State in 2025 was the renewed emphasis on grassroots governance under the administration of Governor Uba Sani.

The Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs emerged as one of the most politically active ministries, making it central to my coverage as a political reporter.

Through consistent reporting for National Accord, I tracked reforms aimed at repositioning local governments as effective engines of development rather than mere administrative extensions of the state government.

One of the most influential actors within this space was the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Sadiq Mamman Lagos, whose activities dominated political discourse at the grassroots level.

His engagements with elected local government officials, traditional rulers, and community stakeholders became recurring stories that shaped political narratives in the state.

From council-level reforms to conflict resolution in chieftaincy matters, his actions provided constant material for political analysis and reporting.

A notable development that shaped the political beat was the handling of chieftaincy affairs, a historically sensitive issue in Kaduna State due to its ethnic and religious diversity.

As a reporter, I observed that the commissioner’s emphasis on dialogue, inclusiveness, and due process helped to douse tensions around traditional stool disputes.

This stability had a direct political impact, as peaceful communities created space for governance, party activities, and citizen participation, which I consistently highlighted in my reports.

Grassroots political mobilisation also defined politics in 2025. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) intensified consolidation efforts ahead of future elections, and this was evident in ward meetings, stakeholder engagements, and political outreach across the state.

In covering these developments for National Accord, I reported how Hon. Sadiq Mamman Lagos played a dual role, balancing governance responsibilities while remaining a key political mobiliser at the grassroots.

His presence at community events, religious celebrations, and civic programmes reinforced the growing link between performance in office and political relevance.

In a chat with the Commissioner during one of his official engagements, he noted that “politics must translate into service at the grassroots, otherwise it loses meaning.”

This perspective reflected a broader political shift in Kaduna State in 2025, where governance delivery increasingly shaped political acceptance and public trust—an angle I consistently explored in my political analysis.

Another factor that shaped political reporting was internal party management and inter-party competition. While opposition parties worked to regain influence, internal reconciliation within the ruling party remained a dominant theme.

As the Kaduna State reporter for National Accord, I covered how strategic management of local political actors helped reduce factional disputes at council levels, contributing to relative political stability.

In conclusion, politics as a beat in 2025 was shaped by governance reforms, grassroots engagement, party dynamics, and responsive leadership, particularly at the local government level.

My role as the Kaduna State correspondent of National Accord placed me at the centre of these developments, allowing me to document how political power translated into governance outcomes.

The activities of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs stood out as a defining influence, making 2025 a year where politics in Kaduna State was increasingly driven by performance, proximity to the people, and accountability.