Abuja:The Grassroots Initiative Party (GRIP) has urged Nigeria to take cues from Brazil’s 2026 presidential election to enhance its electoral institutions, technology, and grassroots engagement.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Nze Kanayo Chukwumezie, the Founder and National Chairperson of GRIP, emphasized the importance of learning from Brazil’s recent election. He stated that the first round of Brazil’s presidential election on October 4 serves as a reflection point for democratic societies, including Nigeria, to consider the significance of credible elections and active citizen participation.
Chukwumezie highlighted the necessity of deploying electoral technology to bolster public confidence in the electoral process. He stressed that Nigeria should enhance the technological capabilities of its electoral system to ensure transparency, verifiability, auditability, and accessibility for all stakeholders. The core objective of technology, he noted, should be to reinforce trust in the electoral process’s integrity.
Furthermore, Chukwumezie underscored the critical role of grassroots organization in sustaining democracy. He called on political parties to establish meaningful relationships with citizens at the community, ward, and local government levels. Campaigns should focus on issues that directly affect Nigerians, such as security, employment, economic opportunities, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and the cost of living.
The GRIP national chairperson also advocated for stronger democratic institutions, urging that electoral bodies, legislatures, the judiciary, security agencies, and other public institutions operate within legal frameworks. He stressed that political competition should be peaceful, with parties, candidates, and supporters adhering to electoral rules and lawful dispute resolution mechanisms.
Chukwumezie further emphasized the importance of addressing electoral disagreements through credible institutional and judicial processes, avoiding violence or intimidation. He highlighted the need to build citizen participation on a foundation of trust through accountability, transparency, effective representation, and responsible leadership. Voter participation, he argued, requires more than appeals; it demands a democratic system where citizens feel their voices can meaningfully influence government direction.
Chukwumezie reaffirmed GRIP’s commitment to creating a political movement centered on the Nigerian populace. The party aims to promote democracy, grassroots involvement, accountability, security, economic opportunities, and national development. He called on political parties, electoral institutions, civil society organizations, the media, and citizens to contribute to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic development.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) notes that Brazil’s presidential election is scheduled for a second round on October 25.