Adebayo Calls For Meaningful Reforms In All Sectors

Prince Adewole Adebayo, has urged Nigerians to demand meaningful reforms across all sectors of national life, beginning with the electoral system, warning that democracy must constantly evolve to remain credible.

Speaking at the National Electoral Reforms Summit 2025 in Abuja, Adebayo cautioned against complacency, stressing that democracy is a continuous process requiring vigilance and reforms.

“If you refuse to reform voluntarily, circumstances will deform you. Democracy is one school you never graduate from,” he said.

He criticised the political elite for treating governance as a personal entitlement rather than a public trust, arguing that many in power had lost touch with the ideals of service and accountability.

“Ordinary citizens have long advocated for democratic ideals. We have democratised grievances — even incumbents now complain,” Adebayo observed.

He commended civil society organisations, labour unions and social movements for their resilience in pushing for accountability despite numerous challenges.

Adebayo stressed that democracy must be meaningful to citizens, with clean, fair and predictable electoral processes that ensure leaders emerge through genuine popularity and public trust.

“The politics of our country must ensure that popularity with the people wins elections. If elected, leaders must govern according to citizens’ wishes or risk losing the next election,” he added.

Highlighting governance failures, he said Nigeria’s politics of incumbency had encouraged self-interest over service, weakening democratic progress and eroding public confidence.

“This perpetuates the politics of incumbency, undermining democratic progress,” he said,

He urged Nigerians to champion reforms capable of producing capable, accountable leaders.

Also speaking at the event, former Minister of Education Dr. Oby Ezekwesili echoed similar concerns, lamenting that Nigeria’s democracy had been distorted by flaws in the electoral system and the declining credibility of key institutions.

She noted that entrenched political interests and poor conduct of past elections had undermined public faith in democracy, calling for comprehensive reforms to strengthen the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and restore confidence in the electoral process.

“Democracy as fair competition has been distorted through our electoral system. Reforms that strengthen INEC’s independence and rebuild confidence in the electoral umpire are essential to restoring credibility,” Ezekwesili said.

She further warned that the increasing role of the judiciary in election disputes — a phenomenon she described as “courtroom democracy” — threatens democratic consolidation.

“Nigerians are aghast at this culture of courtroom democracy, where elections are increasingly decided in courts rather than at polling stations,” she noted.

Ezekwesili expressed concern over contradictory judgments and litigation delays, which she said had created a perception that judicial verdicts, rather than voter choices, determine election outcomes.

“Such confusion erodes public confidence in elections and the judiciary,” she said, urging reforms that return power to the people and ensure elections reflect the genuine will of citizens.

Both speakers emphasised that meaningful electoral reform is critical to rebuilding trust, deepening democracy, and ensuring governance truly serves Nigerians.

By Georgina Humphrey