As Nigeria commemorates the 32nd anniversary of the historic June 12, 1993 elections and 26 years of uninterrupted civilian rule, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has issued a powerful statement urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to translate Nigeria’s democracy into real gains for citizens.
In a message marking the occasion, CAPPA expressed deep concern over rising poverty, insecurity, and the erosion of civic freedoms, accusing public institutions of failing to deliver the promised dividends of democracy despite decades of electoral transitions.
“Despite periodic elections since 1999 and some limited gains, Nigeria’s democracy has not lifted citizens out of poverty or strengthened their rights,” said Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA.
Nigeria’s Democracy Under Pressure Amid Economic Crisis
CAPPA highlighted that more than 130 million Nigerians are living below the poverty line as of 2024, with another 13 million expected to join due to the country’s deepening cost-of-living crisis. It blamed systemic governance failures and poor service delivery, especially in sectors such as health, education, public water, and electricity.
The organization further criticized the ongoing impact of privatization policies that have placed essential services beyond the reach of ordinary citizens, calling Nigeria’s current economic state an “outrage” given its vast mineral wealth and human capital.
Civic Space Shrinking, Free Speech Under Threat, Says CAPPA
CAPPA condemned the increasing use of court orders to restrict protests and suppress freedom of expression in states like Lagos, Ogun, and the FCT, describing these tactics as unconstitutional and undemocratic.
“Actions targeting peaceful protesters, journalists, students, and unionists are clear violations of the democratic principles Nigeria claims to uphold,” the group said.
CAPPA also demanded the immediate withdrawal of what it described as “trumped-up terrorism charges” against young Nigerians arrested during the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests.
Call for Electoral Reforms Ahead of 2027 Elections
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, CAPPA warned that the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process remains under threat from partisan interference. It called for urgent reforms to strengthen the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and ensure transparent result transmission.
“To restore public trust, INEC must be fully autonomous. The power of the Presidency to appoint electoral commissioners must be removed,” CAPPA emphasized.
The organization welcomed pending legislative proposals to amend the 1999 Constitution and Electoral Act 2022, urging the National Assembly to conclude these reforms by 2025. It also stressed the need for merit-based selection of a new INEC chairman when the current leadership’s term ends in November 2025.
Democracy Must Be More Than Elections — CAPPA
CAPPA concluded its statement by reminding political leaders that democracy goes beyond voting every four years. It called for ongoing public accountability, citizen engagement, and protection of constitutional rights.
“President Tinubu and lawmakers must guarantee voting access for all eligible citizens, resolve ambiguities in result transmission, and uphold real-time electronic transmission to ensure credible, transparent elections,” CAPPA said.
