As preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections gather momentum, stakeholders have called for greater citizen participation.
The stakeholders seek credible elections and sustained collaboration among government institutions, security agencies, civil society organisations, religious leaders and the media to strengthen the country’s democracy.
The call was made at a one-day stakeholders’ workshop on “Strengthening Electoral Engagement for Peaceful Democratic Participation,” organised by the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society in collaboration with the Mambayya House, Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Studies, Bayero University, Kano, in Abuja.
The workshop brought together representatives of security agencies, the media, religious organisations, academia, and civil society to discuss strategies for promoting peaceful elections and encouraging Nigerians to participate actively in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 polls.
In his keynote address, Professor Abubakar Abba of the University of Abuja called for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s democratic system, arguing that it must be reformed to better reflect the aspirations and interests of the Nigerian people.
He observed that the country’s democratic process is confronted by numerous structural and institutional challenges that continue to undermine good governance and public confidence in elections.
The professor further noted that Nigeria’s democratic system suffers from the absence of clear political ideologies, a situation that has weakened party politics and contributed to persistent internal crises within political parties.
According to him, the lack of ideological distinction among political parties has encouraged political defections, undermined democratic accountability, and limited meaningful policy debates, thereby posing significant challenges to the country’s democratic development.
Speaking at the event, Dr Abayomi Shogunle, Commissioner of Police in charge of Election Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, said the Police had undertaken extensive reviews of previous elections to identify the causes of security challenges and develop effective strategies to address them.
Shogunle explained that election security begins long before polling day through intelligence gathering, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and the coordinated deployment of security personnel.
He assured Nigerians that comprehensive security arrangements are already being put in place to guarantee peaceful, free, and credible elections in 2027.
“We have developed strategies based on lessons from previous elections, and they are yielding positive results. Our security plans begin days and even weeks before election day.
“Nigerians should be confident that adequate security measures will be in place during the 2027 general elections,” he said.
