Abuja: A former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Mike Igini, has stressed the need for strengthening Nigeria’s federal system through empowered local governments and democratic council elections.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Igini emphasized that effective local governance would reduce excessive political competition and deliver democratic dividends to citizens. He stated, “Meaningful local governance will reduce excessive political competition at the federal level and bring democratic dividends closer to the people.”
Igini also advocated for stronger power-sharing mechanisms and consensus-building arrangements to manage Nigeria’s diversity effectively and promote national cohesion across different ethnic groups. He warned that elections alone might aggravate divisions in a multi-cultural society like Nigeria if critical national issues were not addressed through dialogue and consensus.
The former REC further noted that the 2027 general elections would be a special test for the nation’s democratic journey. He emphasized that the votes of Nigerians should be the verdict that matters most, given the level of discontent. Igini expressed concern over the gradual disempowerment of voters and cautioned that growing national dissatisfaction and frustration could trigger serious consequences if citizens continued to feel excluded from meaningful democratic participation.
Igini highlighted the importance of citizens’ votes counting to ensure democracy remains meaningful, stressing that this is the only way representatives would not become apathetic and stoic to their developmental needs. Despite persistent governance challenges, he acknowledged that Nigeria’s 27 years of uninterrupted democratic rule had produced valuable lessons.
He noted that democracy requires continuous sacrifice, vigilance, and citizens’ commitment to protecting its expected dividends. Speaking on how well Nigerians had fared under democracy, Igini said the verdict remained inconclusive, as key democratic promises were still being tested.
Igini called on Nigerians to actively safeguard democratic values, emphasizing that no individual or institution can guarantee those expectations on behalf of the citizens. He expressed regret that public participation had been reduced mainly to voting, with elections gradually becoming mere performative exercises lacking genuine accountability mechanisms.
He stressed that public confidence in the electoral process remains a major achievement that must be sustained through transparency and accountability, stating, “That citizens still have faith in the power of the vote is a remarkable achievement, but it can only endure through transparency and accountability.”