By Chimezie Godfrey
As Nigeria marks 27 years of uninterrupted democratic governance since the return to civilian rule in 1999, the Initiative for Research and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD) and The Electoral Hub have called for urgent reforms to strengthen democratic institutions, safeguard civic freedoms, and restore public confidence ahead of the 2027 General Election.
In a Democracy Day statement titled “27 Years of Democratic Governance: Achievements, Challenges and the Road Ahead,” the organisations said while Nigeria has recorded significant democratic milestones over the past two decades, persistent challenges continue to threaten democratic consolidation and inclusive governance.
According to the statement signed by the organisations’ Director, Princess Hamman-Obels, Democracy Day should serve not only as a celebration of Nigeria’s democratic journey but also as an opportunity for honest reflection on whether democratic governance is delivering justice, accountability, inclusion, security, and development for citizens.
The organisations noted that as Nigeria enters another critical electoral cycle, beginning with upcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States, all stakeholders must demonstrate responsibility, accountability, restraint, and commitment to democratic integrity.
They acknowledged that since 1999, Nigeria has sustained its longest period of uninterrupted civilian rule, recording multiple electoral cycles, peaceful transfers of power, and gradual improvements in electoral administration. The statement also highlighted the contributions of civil society organisations, the media, democratic institutions, and citizens in defending democratic values despite numerous challenges.
IRIAD and The Electoral Hub further observed that youth participation in governance and public discourse has expanded significantly, creating opportunities for innovation, inclusion, and accountability.
Despite these achievements, the organisations expressed concern over persistent electoral malpractice, including vote buying, political violence, voter suppression, information disorder, and the continued exclusion of women, youths, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups from political processes.
They also identified corruption, weak accountability systems, and declining public trust in institutions as major obstacles to effective governance and sustainable development.
The statement noted that economic hardship remains one of the most pressing challenges confronting Nigerians, citing rising inflation, unemployment, fuel costs, transportation expenses, and the increasing cost of living. It argued that despite improvements in the national minimum wage, millions of Nigerians continue to struggle with poverty and limited access to essential services.
Beyond economic concerns, the organisations warned that worsening insecurity across several parts of the country poses a serious threat to democratic participation and civic freedoms.
According to the statement, insecurity has increasingly restricted citizens’ ability to move freely, speak openly, and participate meaningfully in public life, thereby undermining democratic values and weakening public confidence in governance.
IRIAD and The Electoral Hub further lamented the underrepresentation of women, young people, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups in leadership and decision-making positions, while calling on political parties to strengthen internal democracy, transparency, and inclusiveness.
The organisations stressed that as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 General Election, there is an urgent need to reinforce the core pillars of democracy, including free and fair elections, citizen participation, protection of human rights, and adherence to the rule of law.
They maintained that democracy remains important because it guarantees participation, protects fundamental freedoms, promotes accountability, and enables citizens to shape their collective future.
According to the statement, every vote must count and every citizen must have confidence that electoral outcomes genuinely reflect the will of the people. Elections, they said, must remain transparent, peaceful, inclusive, and free from violence, intimidation, manipulation, and vote trading.
The organisations also emphasized the need to protect fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, association, religion, peaceful assembly, and press freedom, warning that no democracy can thrive where fear replaces freedom and rights are selectively applied.
Reaffirming their commitment to democratic development, IRIAD and The Electoral Hub pledged to continue promoting electoral knowledge, accountability, inclusion, and integrity through research, advocacy, public education, and citizen engagement.
They also pledged to advance inclusive civic participation among youths, women, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups, while supporting initiatives that promote human rights, transparency, accountability, and democratic resilience.
The organisations stressed that Nigeria’s democratic success should not be measured solely by the number of years under civilian rule but by the quality of governance delivered, the freedoms protected, and the opportunities created for citizens.
IRIAD and The Electoral Hub called on governments at all levels to prioritize security, strengthen civic freedoms, combat corruption, and ensure public institutions operate transparently and accountably.
They urged electoral institutions to maintain professionalism, independence, transparency, and integrity throughout the electoral process to guarantee public confidence in election outcomes.
The organisations also called on political parties and political leaders to reject violence, vote buying, intimidation, and divisive rhetoric while creating greater opportunities for women, youths, and marginalized groups to participate in governance and leadership.
Civil society organisations and the media were encouraged to continue defending civic space through voter education, election observation, fact-checking, advocacy, and accountability reporting.
They further urged citizens to remain informed, engaged, and committed to defending democratic values by rejecting electoral malpractice, demanding accountability, and participating peacefully in governance processes.
According to the statement, only collective action and sustained commitment can build a democracy that guarantees security, restores trust, protects freedoms, and delivers justice, inclusion, dignity, and accountability for all Nigerians.
“Only through urgent collective action can Nigeria build a democracy that is not only sustained in years but strengthened in practice,” the statement concluded.
The organisations wished Nigerians a happy Democracy Day and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening democratic governance, electoral integrity, accountability, and citizen participation across the country.
Democracy at 27: IRIAD, Electoral Hub Call for Urgent Reforms Ahead of 2027 Elections
