Political stakeholders, civil society organisations and governance experts have called for comprehensive electoral reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions and enhance public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The stakeholders made the call at a democracy and governance forum held in Abuja on Monday, where participants reviewed the country’s electoral system and identified areas requiring urgent attention.
Speaking at the event, governance experts stressed the need for stronger legal frameworks, improved voter education and greater use of technology to ensure transparent and credible elections.
According to them, electoral reforms remain critical to addressing recurring challenges such as voter apathy, election-related violence, vote buying and logistical shortcomings.
A political analyst, Dr Ibrahim Musa, said Nigeria had made significant progress in democratic governance over the years but noted that further reforms were necessary to consolidate those gains.
He urged policymakers to prioritise amendments to electoral laws that would promote accountability, transparency and inclusiveness in the political process.
“We must continue to strengthen our democratic institutions to ensure that elections reflect the genuine will of the people.
“Electoral integrity is the foundation of democratic governance and national stability,” he said.
Also speaking, a representative of a civil society organisation, Mrs Grace Eze, emphasised the importance of civic engagement and voter education in deepening democracy.
She said many eligible voters remained disengaged due to misinformation, distrust in institutions and inadequate understanding of electoral processes.
According to her, sustained voter education campaigns would encourage greater participation and help citizens make informed electoral decisions.
The stakeholders also called for increased political inclusion of women, youths and persons with disabilities, describing their participation as essential to achieving representative governance.
They noted that despite constituting a significant proportion of the population, women and young people remained underrepresented in elective and appointive positions.
Participants further urged political parties to adopt transparent internal democratic processes and ensure that candidate selection procedures were fair and inclusive.
They observed that internal party disputes and lack of transparency often contributed to political instability and weakened public confidence in democratic institutions.
Meanwhile, legal practitioners at the forum advocated timely resolution of election-related disputes through judicial reforms and strengthened electoral adjudication mechanisms.
They argued that speedy and impartial handling of electoral cases would contribute to political stability and reinforce public trust in the rule of law.
The stakeholders expressed optimism that with sustained reforms, stronger institutions and active citizen participation, Nigeria’s democracy would continue to grow and deliver greater dividends to the people.
They also called on government agencies, political parties, civil society groups and development partners to work collaboratively toward achieving credible, peaceful and inclusive elections in the future.
Political observers believe that ongoing discussions on electoral reforms could shape policy decisions and legislative actions ahead of the next electoral cycle.
