Prof. Sam Egwu, a former Resident Electoral Commissioner, has called on Nigerians to go beyond casting ballots in the 2027 general election and actively demand accountability from the Tinubu administration, Vanguard News reports. Speaking in Abuja at the 20th anniversary gala and lecture of the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Egwu warned that a narrowing civic space, constraints on press freedom and weak accountability mechanisms are putting the country's democracy under strain.
His lecture was titled "Reclaiming Civic Space: The Rule of Law, Democratic Accountability, and the Future of Citizens' Participation in Nigeria."
According to Vanguard News, Egwu argued that public involvement in governance should not begin and end on election day. Citizens, he said, ought to stay engaged between polls, scrutinise government decisions and press elected officials for explanations.
Why it matters
The remarks land as Nigeria's political calendar turns toward 2027, with civic groups, the electoral commission and grassroots organisations already preparing for the vote. Egwu's central argument — that elections are a starting point rather than a conclusion — places public scrutiny of policy at the heart of democratic health.
He described civic space as the foundation of any open society, saying that where it is protected, citizens and civil society organisations can organise, take part in governance and speak freely without obstruction. Vanguard News reports that he framed the safeguarding of that space as essential to democratic life.
A fading enthusiasm since 1999
Egwu said the optimism that accompanied Nigeria's return to civilian rule in 1999 has steadily worn down, even though the constitution still guarantees citizens' rights. Concerns about democratic freedoms have grown over the intervening years, he said, according to Vanguard News.
He also raised questions about how the current administration has handled several major economic decisions. Among them he listed the unification of the exchange rate, the removal of the fuel subsidy, the new tax regime and electricity tariffs.
Vanguard News quotes Egwu saying these policies raise serious questions about accountability to Nigerians. He said they prompt fundamental questions about how public decisions are reached, how far citizens' interests are weighed, and what mechanisms exist for government to answer for the consequences of its choices.
Calls for collective responsibility
Dr. Dayo Olaide, who chaired the occasion and sits on CHRICED's board, said safeguarding democracy cannot be left to civil society organisations alone, according to Vanguard News. He described making democracy function as a shared duty requiring commitment and participation from everyone.
Olaide said the process begins with speaking up and extends past the act of voting. He urged Nigerians to ensure their ballots are counted and that the people's will is reflected in election results, and to measure elections by what they deliver for citizens and by their contribution to democratic progress.
CHRICED Executive Director Comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi said the organisation was founded two decades ago to confront the exclusion of citizens from governance and to advance democratic accountability, Vanguard News reports. Its work has centred on civic education, the integrity of elections, empowering women and young people, protecting vulnerable groups and widening access to public services.
The anniversary event, held under the theme "20 Years of Voice and Justice: Empowering Citizens, Shaping Tomorrow," also saw the organisation present two publications covering civic engagement and its public interventions between 2020 and 2026.
The coming months will show whether such calls translate into organised pressure on the government as parties, regulators and civil society groups ramp up preparations for the 2027 vote.
