How to Strengthen Nigeria’s Democracy – Akpabio, Falana, and Others on June 12

ABUJA – Yesterday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, human‑rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Tony Ojukwu, SAN, and retired Supreme Court Justice Abdu Aboki gathered to discuss how Nigeria can deepen its democracy and ensure credible elections that produce leaders capable of delivering democratic dividends to the people.

They highlighted existing inadequacies but stressed that achieving electoral integrity requires the commitment of all segments of society, including political parties, politicians, the electorate, security agencies and electoral officials.

The speakers addressed the annual June 12 commemoration lecture in honour of 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 organised 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 the restoration of democracy, particularly his role in conducting the June 12 presidential election. He noted that a key responsibility of parliament is to provide the legal framework that guarantees free, fair, transparent and credible elections.

Akpabio 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 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,” he said.

Falana expressed disappointment that those who are now 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. “If you want democracy next year at the elections, you must ensure that kidnapping, abduction of Nigerians, including children, stops,” he said. “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.”

Ojukwu said 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 every citizen’s right to choose their leaders freely without fear of manipulation or disenfranchisement.

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