Stakeholders have called for reforms to Nigeria’s electoral system, stronger democratic institutions and greater accountability among political leaders amid concerns over declining voter turnout, poverty and public distrust in elections.

The calls were made at a colloquium in Abuja to mark the 60th birthday of civic advocate, Chief Ezenwa Nwagwu, where his book, Eze Unhinged: Electoral Reforms, A Participant’s View and Reflections, was presented.

Former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, who chaired the event, called for independent democratic institutions, broader economic opportunities and a national identity that transcends ethnic loyalties.

Chiroma said Nigeria needed to move away from a system dominated by powerful individuals towards one in which institutions operated independently and protected citizens regardless of their political affiliations or social status.

He said documenting experiences from the electoral process could contribute to discussions on the challenges facing Nigeria’s democracy and efforts to strengthen democratic institutions.

Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, the Accord Party’s presidential candidate, identified distrust in the electoral process, poverty, insecurity, logistical problems and dissatisfaction with candidates as factors contributing to declining voter turnout.

Represented by Baze University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abiodun Gabriel Adeniyi, Olawepo-Hashim cited International IDEA figures showing that turnout in Nigeria’s presidential elections fell from 69.08 per cent in 2003 to 26.71 per cent in 2023.

He urged electoral authorities to make elections safer, more accessible and transparent, arguing that citizens should not be blamed for withdrawing from a process in which they had lost confidence.

“Poverty does not extinguish political rights, but it can diminish the capacity to exercise them when survival consumes the time, resources, and energy required for meaningful participation,” he said.

Olawepo-Hashim also argued that democracy should be assessed by the opportunities it creates for citizens to live with dignity and participate in national development, not merely by the existence of constitutional institutions.

He called for economic reforms to translate Nigeria’s natural resources into jobs, business opportunities and improved living standards.

On energy costs, he advocated transparent cost accounting, reliable domestic crude oil supply and efficient refining, alongside measures addressing foreign exchange, logistics and taxation.

Former Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye, criticised political parties for what he described as a lack of clear ideological direction, saying Nigeria had yet to establish a sustainable democratic system despite 27 years of uninterrupted civilian rule.

He urged citizens to demand accountability from elected officials and identified representation, lawmaking and oversight as the core responsibilities of legislators.

Melaye also called for equal civic rights for Nigerians regardless of where they live and urged political parties to create more meaningful opportunities for women and young people.

In his remarks, Nwagwu identified cultural practices, financial constraints and political interests as obstacles to women’s participation in politics.

He criticised the limited representation of women in party leadership structures, arguing that assigning them designated positions did not necessarily give them sufficient influence over decision-making.

He called for the removal of financial, cultural and political barriers that prevent women and other underrepresented groups from participating fully in politics.

President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr Ike Neliaku, called for greater cooperation across ethnic, religious and generational divides.

He said younger Nigerians brought energy, creativity and innovation, while older generations offered experience, networks and institutional knowledge, adding that collaboration between the two groups was important for national development.

The event was attended by Nigeria Labour Congress President Joe Ajaero, Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission Tony Ojukwu, SAN, Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies Abubakar Sulaiman, former TETFund Executive Secretary Sulayman Bogoro and other political, labour and civil society figures.