The Just Friends Club of Nigeria (JFCN) says it will bring political parties, civil society representatives and other stakeholders together to discuss voter responsibility, electoral accountability and democratic development ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The discussion will take place at the club’s 8th Annual Public Lecture, scheduled for Tuesday, 20 October 2026, at Bolingo Hotels, Abuja, with the theme “From Concern to Action: Making Our Votes Count in the 2027 General Elections.”
Renowned human rights lawyer and democracy advocate, Mr Clement Nwankwo, will deliver the keynote address.
Nwankwo, who is Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), has more than three decades of experience in human rights advocacy, election monitoring, democratic governance and legislative reform.
He co-founded the Civil Liberties Organisation in 1987, established the Constitutional Rights Project and served as founding chairman of the Transition Monitoring Group, which monitored Nigeria’s 1999 general elections.
He also convened the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, a coalition involved in election observation and advocacy for electoral accountability and democratic reforms.
The event is expected to examine how Nigerians can translate concerns about governance and electoral credibility into meaningful civic participation, with discussions focusing on voter turnout, credible elections, political accountability and responsible engagement.
Journalist and political analyst Augustine Okhiria Agbonsuremi will participate as a non-aligned panellist. He has more than 35 years of media experience and is the Executive Director of the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development (PRIMORG), as well as producer and anchor of Deep Insight with Agbonsuremi.
The club says it has invited the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) to nominate representatives for the panel discussion.
According to the organisers, the invitations are intended to provide a platform for different political perspectives and enable the parties to explain their proposals for strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
President of the club, Chief Amaechi C. Aloke, said the 2027 elections would provide Nigerians with an opportunity to influence the country’s direction through informed political choices.
“Elections should be about more than winning power. Nigerians must examine the records, programmes and promises of those seeking office. We invited the major political parties because fairness and accountability are essential to strengthening our democracy,” Aloke said.
The Just Friends Club of Nigeria is a non-profit socio-cultural and philanthropic organisation that promotes friendship, mutual support, community service and national development.
Since its inaugural public lecture in 2014, the club has hosted speakers including Benjamin Ezra Dikki, Tony Ejinkeonye, Dr Abraham Nwankwo, Reverend Father George Ehusani, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, Dr Sam Amadi and retired Lieutenant-General Abdulrahman Dambazau, a former Chief of Army Staff.
Through its annual lecture and other initiatives, the organisation seeks to encourage informed citizenship, responsible leadership and constructive engagement with Nigeria’s political, economic and social challenges.
