Ahead of the 2027 poll, former presidential candidates of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Engr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, will be rubbing minds on the need to strengthen democratic rule in the country.
Also expected at the parley, scheduled to be held next week on Monday and Tuesday in Abuja, are Vice President Kashim Shettima, former Head of State General Abdulsalam, and the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Ghana, Mahamudu Bawumia, who lost to John Dramani Mahama of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the recently held presidential election in Ghana.
The national chairmen of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Speaker of the House of Representatives Dr. Tajudeen Abass, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar III, Dr. Pat Utomi, leading figures of the opposition parties like Mr. Julius Abure, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Dr. George Akume, scores of top government functionaries, academics, and pro-democracy activists in the country will also be present.
Dr. Otive Igbuzor, the Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy, and Development (Centre LSD), at a press conference held in Abuja on Thursday, disclosed that the conference is being organised by five collaborating organisations comprising the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WfD), Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), and the National Peace Committee.
He explained that the goal is to ignite a discussion aimed at tackling the pressing challenges that threaten the very foundation of democracy in the country.
As conveners, he said they are committed to addressing the complexities and setbacks Nigeria’s democratic system currently faces, with the purpose of finding actionable solutions that can restore and strengthen national governance.
He said it is unfortunate that Nigeria’s democratic journey, spanning 25 years of uninterrupted civilian rule, is beset by structural and functional flaws, ranging from electoral malpractices, ineffective political parties, and weakened governance structures to pervasive corruption and a concerning erosion of public trust.
Flanked by his colleagues, he claimed that for too long, the political landscape in Nigeria has been dominated by elite cliques, leaving citizens feeling alienated from the governance processes that directly impact their lives.
He explained that the conference aims to initiate reform efforts that will strengthen the electoral process and ensure that the leadership selection process is credible.
He added: “We seek to mobilise and strengthen our political parties. Political parties are the bedrock of any democracy, yet in Nigeria, they often fall short of the ideals of transparency, accountability, and responsiveness.
“The focus of the conference includes fostering the development of political parties that are truly representative, open to internal democracy, and accountable to the people. By addressing these issues, we envision political parties that champion the voice and needs of Nigerians, providing viable choices for leadership and governance.
“Another key reason we are organizing the conference is the need to mobilise citizens for democratic resilience. Democracy is only as strong as the citizens who uphold it. As conveners, we believe that engaging Nigerians at all levels—from grassroots communities to influential stakeholders—is fundamental to creating a resilient democracy.
“The conference is, therefore, an avenue to reignite civic engagement, encouraging Nigerians to actively participate in the democratic process and to demand accountability from leaders at every level. Through such mobilisation, we aim to foster a culture of informed citizenry, with the power to shape and safeguard our democracy.”
