The local government reform in Nigeria that prevented traditional rulers from engaging in politics was the 1976 Reform.
Here's a simple explanation:
Prior to the 1976 reform, traditional rulers had significant influence and played active roles in both political and administrative affairs within their regions. This often created conflicts of interest and challenges in governance, as their roles were not clearly defined within the modern state structure.
The 1976 Local Government Reform was a significant restructuring of local governance. This reform aimed to establish a more uniform and systematic local government system throughout Nigeria. A vital aspect of this reform was to clearly define the roles and responsibilities of traditional rulers in order to separate traditional authority from political governance.
The reform stipulated that traditional rulers should no longer have executive or administrative roles in the formal local government system. This meant that they could not hold political office or engage in political activities, allowing for a clearer distinction between traditional roles and political governance.
Overall, the reform sought to create a more democratic and efficient local government structure by reducing political interference from traditional rulers, while still allowing them to preserve their cultural and traditional roles within their communities.