Former Presidential Candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo, has called for strengthened electoral transparency and sustained civic engagement to safeguard Nigeria’s democratic process.
Speaking at a gathering of civil society organisations and concerned citizens at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, Adebayo described the assembly as a demonstration of democratic participation rather than protest.
He noted that active citizen presence around legislative institutions is consistent with democratic norms globally, stressing that accountability mechanisms function best when citizens regularly engage their representatives.
Adebayo expressed concerns over ongoing electoral reform discussions, urging policymakers to ensure that any amendments to election guidelines or processes promote inclusiveness, credibility, and public trust.
According to him, while governance challenges such as resource management and service delivery remain pressing, the integrity of electoral systems is fundamental to national sovereignty and democratic stability.
He called on stakeholders including lawmakers, electoral bodies, and civil society groups — to prioritise transparency, fairness, and adherence to constitutional principles in shaping future electoral frameworks.
The former presidential candidate also encouraged citizens to make civic participation a consistent practice within their communities, faith-based organisations, and professional associations, noting that democratic consolidation depends on collective responsibility.
The event concluded with participants reiterating the need for continuous dialogue on electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections, with organisers indicating that a detailed reform proposal would be presented to relevant authorities.
On her part, the Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, asked the National Assembly to make electronic transmission of election results compulsory and real-time in the amended Electoral Act.
She said the House of Representatives’ version of the bill clearly supports this and should be adopted to ensure transparency.
Ezekwesili warned that giving discretion to INEC, as proposed in the Senate’s version, could weaken the credibility of elections.
She stressed that clear and firm legal provisions are necessary to protect the integrity of the voting process.
She also expressed concern over clauses that mention possible network failure, saying such loopholes could affect proper implementation.
According to her, electoral laws must be clear to avoid confusion and disputes.
Civil society groups at the event called for reforms that would strengthen public confidence in elections ahead of the 2027 general polls.
