National leader of an opposition movement, “The Alternative”, Segun Showunmi, has called for urgent political reforms to strengthen the nation’s democracy.
He also said that forming new political parties would never resolve fundamental electoral challenges such as voter apathy, vote-buying, and lack of electoral integrity.
Showunmi stated this while addressing stakeholders, including political party leaders, governance advocates, women leaders, and youth groups at a Southeast Town Hall meeting in Enugu.
He noted that despite having 18 registered political parties, voter turnout remains low, with over 90 million of eligible voters failing to participate in elections.
“Even if we register a new political party, how does that prevent vote-buying and electoral fraud? The real issue is ensuring integrity in the process, from INEC to the electorate themselves,” he said.
Unveiling the movement in Enugu, the convener expressed concerns about the current state of political parties in Nigeria, stating that the ruling party appears to be the only one adequately prepared for elections.
Showunmi urged Nigerians, especially professionals, lecturers, and community leaders, to actively participate in politics rather than leave it to a select few.
He warned that if educated and experienced citizens refuse to engage in politics, governance would be left in the hands of those with little interest in national development.
He criticised the trend where opposition parties emerge merely as platforms for contesting elections rather than as vehicles for genuine political engagement and national development.
He stressed that democracy has the potential to drive national progress, citing Turkey as an example of a country that used democratic governance to move forward.
Showunmi questioned why Nigeria has yet to see significant progress despite decades of democratic rule.
He argued that opposition parties should play a more constructive role beyond criticizing the ruling government.
According to him, while the ruling party is occupied with governance challenges such as managing inflation, creating employment, and addressing poverty, opposition parties must actively engage in political education, policy advocacy, and grassroots mobilisation.
“Opposition is not just about saying the government is bad. It is also about addressing issues within the political process. For example, is it the federal government that tells people not to vote on election day? Is it the federal government that encourages vote-buying? No. These are problems we need to fix within ourselves,” he stated.
He also stressed the importance of national unity, cautioning against tribal divisions that continue to threaten the country’s progress.
