Amaechi, Ezekwesili Urge Nigerians to Demand Accountability, Call for Electoral Reforms

Former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, and ex-Minister of Education, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, have called on Nigerians to hold politicians accountable and push for comprehensive electoral reforms to safeguard the nation’s democracy.

Speaking at the National Electoral Reform Summit in Abuja, Amaechi accused some political leaders, who frustrated former President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts to reform the electoral system, of now pretending to advocate for the same cause.

“When we were in government, Buhari was determined to leave behind a legacy of credible elections,” Amaechi said. “But when the National Assembly presented the electoral amendment bill, certain politicians pressured him not to sign it. Ironically, those same people are now calling for reform.”

Describing the situation as political hypocrisy, Amaechi lamented that many Nigerian politicians only support reforms when it benefits their personal interests. He added that Buhari’s refusal to sign the bill denied Nigeria a critical opportunity to strengthen electoral integrity, a decision, he said, still haunts the country.

He also warned the current administration against repeating past mistakes, urging President Bola Tinubu to prioritise credible elections and transparency in governance.

In her remarks, Ezekwesili decried what she described as the “moral and institutional collapse” of Nigeria’s democracy, saying elections have become courtroom battles rather than reflections of the people’s will.

“Our democracy has turned into what I call courtroom democracy, where outcomes are decided by judges, not voters,” she said. “This undermines citizens’ power and erodes faith in the system.”

Ezekwesili, who co-convened the #BringBackOurGirls campaign and is a former Vice President of the World Bank, criticised the judiciary for losing public trust, noting that inconsistent judgments have delegitimised both the courts and the electoral process.

She described the 2023 general elections as “a national disappointment” that shattered confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and urged far-reaching reforms to ensure INEC’s full independence and transparency.

Meanwhile, the Unified Nigeria Youth Forum (UNYF) blamed successive leaders for ignoring the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s 1981 warning that Nigeria risked decline without visionary and selfless leadership.

UNYF President, Olajide Toriah, said the country’s current struggles, ranging from insecurity to economic instability, stem from decades of poor governance and disregard for Awolowo’s foresight.

He prayed that the 2027 elections would not repeat the cycle of mediocrity, urging leaders to rebuild public trust and pursue reforms that promote equity, justice, and national unity.