Some political leaders in the nation have issued a stern warning, demanding the Federal Government to fix the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the 2027 general elections to restore public confidence and enhance electoral credibility.
The call was made by the leaders, who included governors and former ministers, on Monday in Abuja at a high-level panel discussion organised by the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership.
The Athena Election Observatory, a project to track and record election innovations, reforms, and governance trends in Nigeria and throughout Africa, was also launched during the event.
Prominent figures among the panellists included; Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo; Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal; former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; and former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, who is also the Chancellor of the Athena Centre.
Speaking at the forum, Prof. Soludo emphasised that changes should concentrate on strengthening public trust and institutional independence because credible elections demonstrate the calibre of administration and institutional integrity.
“The critical question is how we can make our institutions work. We have made some progress, but we still have a long way to go in building trust in the process,” Soludo said.
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, on his part, connected democratic success to accountability in government and respect for the rule of law.
“We cannot talk about democracy without the rule of law. The rule of law guarantees fairness, justice, and peace in society,” he said.
Speaking as well, former Minister Osita Chidoka emphasised that institutions, not people, are what make democracy function and claimed that Nigeria’s electoral problems are caused by weak institutions and poor public confidence, hence the call for INEC to be reformed.
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