Former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, on Tuesday urged urgent reforms to restore public trust in Nigeria’s democracy, warning that flaws in the electoral system have eroded confidence in institutions.
Speaking at the National Electoral Reforms Summit 2025 in Abuja, she said entrenched political interests and poor conduct of past elections have undermined credibility. She stressed that reforms must extend to the judiciary, whose increasing role in election disputes has created a perception that courtroom decisions, not voters, determine outcomes.
Ezekwesili called for measures that return power to citizens and ensure elections genuinely reflect the people’s will.
Also speaking, Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo urged Nigerians to demand reforms across national life, emphasizing that democracy is an ongoing process requiring active citizen engagement. He highlighted the need for credible elections to produce accountable leaders and promote good governance.
The summit launched a citizens-led National Movement for Credible Elections, aimed at strengthening electoral integrity ahead of the 2027 polls.
