Nigerian youths and other stakeholders in the country have again called for the review of Nigeria’s electoral process to ensure votes count, restore confidence in the process and drive participation of all citizens.

This call was made at the 3rd edition of the Fixing Nigeria Conference by the Ernest and Ibrahim Foundation held on October 1 to mark the country’s Independence Day celebration. It was attended by policy makers, renowned political experts and speakers as will as Nigerian youths.

According to a communique issued at the end of the conference and made available on Saturday by the Project Director, #FixingNigeria, Ms Rukuya Ibrahim, experts agreed that a review of the electoral process will enthrone accountability and transparency, which are key ingredients of democratic governance.

Citizens were charged to take responsibility for those they vote into office, by scrutinising political aspirants and party manifestoes, which will serve as a benchmark against which to measure their performance.

Nigerian citizens were also urged to become part of legislative process, through continuous citizen engagement with the National Assembly and by subjecting political aspirants to rigorous but honest/unbiased debates right from nomination and not wishes of a privileged few.

Government was tasked to create a platform to groom the youth.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Nigerian media and Civil Society Organizations were also identified as very important component of an effective government, and therefore tasked to always monitor and check the government at all times.

The one-day conference, with the theme, ‘Sustainable and Efficient Democracy: Issues on Accountability and Transparency in Governance’, had the presence of over 300 participants from across the nation and appreciated the attendance, participation and invaluable contributions of participants, particularly the well renowned speakers.

Notable amongst the speakers, were the Chief Judge of the FCT, Hon Justice Ishaq Bello, Dr Ike Neliaku, Senator Dino Melaye, Mr. Shola Olapade, Mr. Soji Oyawoye, Dr Sam Amadi, Mr. Hamzat Lawal, and panellists Josie Itoyah, Emeka Diru, Amb. Sunday Okereke, Ndi Kato, Saadatu Hamu Aliyu, Senator Iroegbu, Solomon Adodo, Idris Akinbajo, Ibrahim Farouk, Hon. Nicholas Ossai, Alwan Hassan, Ahmed Musa Sagir, Hon. Kolade Victor Akinjo, Barr Ishmael Bello.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Shola Olapade, said the purpose of accountability and transparency is to create common wealth and vision for the people.

He highlighted three points of note: “Purpose, Process and Participation” and went into details on how all three points are great in addressing the issue of transparency and accountability in governance.

He also called for the review of our processes in electing leaders and active participation by being courageous, taking ownership, being responsible, having expectations from our leaders and continuous enlightenment of how the system works.

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