A national conference in Nigeria has placed the country’s electoral process on the top banner of discussion, describing it as faulty and a threat to democratic governance of the Nation and the African continent at large.
These were the views expressed by the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi and the former Vice President of Ghana, Mahamudu Bawumia at a two-day conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria.
With over two decades of uninterrupted democratic governance, Nigeria is still faced with multidimensional challenges in its electoral process.
The national conference with the theme: Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy; Pathway to Good Governance and Political Integrity”, was put together by top civil society organizations in the country.
The conference which was well attended by politicians and relevant stakeholders, served as a forum for the launch of a crucial initiative aimed at tackling the pressing challenges that threatens the foundation of democracy in the country.
Some of the identified threats included; electoral malpractices, ineffective political parties and the pursuit of self ambitions instead of general interests.
The participants also harped on the urgent need for democratic reforms, stating that it lies as the most pressing requirement for a political environment free of manipulations, imposition, and exclusion.
Political observers warn that democracy in the African continent is gradually loosing the confidence of the citizenry with eight of its countries witnessing military coup in recent years.
Editor: Ken Eseni
