Influence of Political Interference on Public Project Implementation in Kebbi State, North West Nigeria

Political interference in public project management is a recurring theme in Nigerian governance discourse, with demonstrable effects on project timing, contractor selection, and outcome quality. This study investigates the influence of political interference on public project implementation in Kebbi State, North West Nigeria. A descriptive survey will recruit 180 civil servants, project managers, contractors, and community stakeholders from 20 federal and state government projects across road, education, and water supply sectors in Birnin Kebbi, Argungu, and Gwandu. A structured questionnaire will assess dimensions of political interference including project site selection, contractor favoritism, budget diversion, and supervision manipulation. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis will determine the relationship between interference severity and project outcome quality. Studies from North West Nigeria document close links between project award decisions and political patronage networks, resulting in poorly qualified contractors and inflated budgets. Findings will contribute to recommendations for transparency and accountability mechanisms in Kebbi State's public project management system. Keywords: political interference, public projects, Kebbi State, governance, accountability