A two-day national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria has concluded with stakeholders calling for comprehensive reforms across government institutions, electoral processes, and political parties to address growing threats to democratic governance.
The conference, held at Abuja Continental Hotel from January 27-28, 2025, was jointly organised by the African Centre for Leadership Strategy and Development (CentreLSD), the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), and other partners.
Participants, including former vice president Atiku Abubakar, Kayode Fayemi, and Nasir El-Rufai, among other notable personalities; serving executive, legislative, and judiciary members, raised alarm over concerning trends in Nigeria’s democratic journey. The conference highlighted that 30% of young Nigerians now favour military rule, according to the 2023 Open Society Barometer, a development that mirrors disturbing patterns in neighbouring ECOWAS nations.
Key concerns identified include the judiciary’s increasing role in determining electoral outcomes, the weakening of state institutions, and the emerging trend of vote-buying despite electoral reforms. Participants also noted the growing risk of state capture and the potential slide toward a one-party system.
The conference proposed specific actions for different arms of government and stakeholders.
For the Executive branch, recommendations included implementing policies to reduce social inequalities and revisiting the Uwais Report on electoral reforms. The conference also advocated for police reforms and suggested moving the Correctional Service under the Justice Ministry’s purview.
The Judiciary was urged to pursue reforms for greater autonomy, including improvements to judges’ welfare and service conditions. Legal officers were encouraged to prioritise public interest over commercial considerations.
For the Legislature, the conference emphasised the urgent need to review the Electoral Act and reform the “winner-takes-all” system. Lawmakers were also tasked with more thorough scrutiny of INEC appointments to prevent political interference.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) received recommendations to decentralise election management, implement ward-level result collation, and strengthen its oversight of political parties. The conference also supported allowing diaspora voting to enhance electoral inclusivity.
Political parties faced calls for significant reform, with participants urging them to move beyond being mere “special-purpose vehicles” for elections. The conference advocated for stronger opposition coalitions and innovative funding strategies to reduce dependence on state resources.
Civil society organisations and media were charged with intensifying citizen education and advocating against the use of state resources for partisan purposes.
“Nigeria’s democracy, despite 25 years of uninterrupted civilian rule, faces unprecedented challenges that require urgent attention,” noted conference organisers. “The recommendations from this gathering provide a roadmap for strengthening our democratic institutions and processes.”
The conference drew particular attention to global trends, noting that in about 60 recent elections worldwide, including in major democracies like the USA, UK, and India, 80% of incumbents lost power. This was contrasted with the African context, where eight coup d’états occurred between 2020-2023, highlighting the fragility of democratic institutions on the continent.
Security agencies were urged to maintain professionalism and neutrality in electoral matters while ensuring the prosecution of electoral offenders to serve as a deterrent.
The gathering concluded by emphasising the need for democracy to be practiced within political parties themselves before it can effectively function at national and sub-national levels.
Participants commended the organising partners for convening the conference and called on all stakeholders to implement their respective recommendations to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic framework.
The conference organisers announced plans to monitor the implementation of these recommendations and continue engaging with relevant stakeholders to ensure meaningful progress in strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
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