Deepening Nigeria’s Democracy: Insights from Akpabio, Falana, and Others (June 12)

ABUJA – Senate President Godswill Akpabio, human‑rights activist Femi Falana, SAN, Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Tony Ojukwu, SAN, and retired Supreme Court Justice Abdu Aboki met on Sunday to outline measures for deepening Nigeria’s democracy and ensuring credible elections that produce leaders capable of delivering democratic dividends to the people.

The group highlighted existing shortcomings but emphasized that electoral integrity requires the commitment of all segments of society, including political parties, politicians, the electorate, security agencies and electoral officials.

They spoke at the annual June 12 commemoration lecture honoring former National Electoral Commission Chairman Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, who oversaw the 1993 general elections, including the June 12 presidential election.

The event, themed “Electoral integrity and the future of credible elections in Nigeria,” was organized by the NHRC in partnership with the Prof. Humphrey N. Nwosu Centre for Democracy and Human Rights.

In his address, the Senate President praised the late Nwosu for his contribution to restoring democracy, particularly his role in conducting the June 12 presidential election.

Represented by Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Akpabio noted that a key responsibility of parliament is to provide the legal framework that guarantees free, fair, transparent and credible elections.

He said, “The future of credible elections in Nigeria will depend, not only on technology and legal reforms, but also on character, leadership and institutional trust,” adding that “nations rise when citizens believe in the fairness of their institutions.”

Falana, recalling his involvement in the struggle to ensure the June 12 presidential election was held, praised the late Nwosu as a man of integrity and courage.

“By April 1993, we knew that General Babangida was not committed to having an election. He simply wanted to metamorphose from a military dictator to a civilian president. So we had a running battle,” Falana said.

He expressed disappointment that those who are currently the direct beneficiaries of past democratic struggles appear not to be committed to ensuring electoral integrity and providing the people with the dividends of democracy.

He said, “If you want democracy next year at the elections, you must ensure that kidnapping, abduction of Nigerians, including children, stops. We can’t be talking of elections without addressing problems that will make elections impossible next year. If terrorism continues, if abduction of people continues, it will be difficult to have campaigns very soon.”

The NHRC chief emphasized that the event was not merely a commemoration lecture but a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by courageous Nigerians in the struggle for democracy, constitutional governance, electoral justice, and the protection of fundamental human rights to participate in free and fair elections.

Justice Aboki noted that at a time when citizens are demanding accountability, technology is reshaping political participation, and democratic institutions are being tested worldwide, Nigeria must confront a fundamental question: how do we strengthen the sanctity of our electoral process?

He argued that electoral integrity is not merely a technical issue; it is a human‑rights issue, because it concerns the right of every citizen to choose their leaders freely without fear of manipulation or disenfranchisement.

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