By Bisola Adeyemo
The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism on Monday said Nigeria’s democracy must be measured by security, welfare, accountability and public trust, not just elections, as the Centre marked its 20th anniversary in Lagos.
The statement was made at the 18th Annual Media Lecture Series held at Providence Hotel, Ikeja. The event coincided with the 92nd birthday of Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, after whom the Centre is named.
The lecture, themed “Beyond the Ballot: Measuring Democracy Through Security, Welfare, Accountability, and Public Trust,”was convened ahead of the 2027 general elections. The Centre also launched its 2025 Journalism and Civic Space Status Report at the event.
Keynote speaker Professor Umaru Alhaji Pate, former Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Kashere , said Nigeria operates a “seasonal democracy.”
“All hands must be on deck,” Pate said. “A political system that cannot drive quality education or aggressively fight poverty, insecurity, corruption, and unemployment is not democratic but decorative.”
Pate said true democratic endurance is measured by “tangible improvements in human capital,” not voter turnout. He added that “neglecting young people through educational decay and joblessness is how you manufacture insecurity.”
Speaking on election preparations, Taiwo Gbadegesin, Deputy Director and Head of Voter Education, Publicity, Gender and Civil Society at the Independent National Electoral Commission, said INEC is conducting nationwide voter education ahead of the 2027 polls.
“The ongoing exercise confirms the Commission’s resolve to ensure all Nigerians are properly educated ahead of the elections,” Gbadegesin said. “We are working around the clock. We’ve just had the governorship election in Ekiti State, and Osun State election is next.”
Gbadegesin said INEC “improves with each election” but noted that voter apathy remains a concern. He described the Commission’s voter awareness program as “superlative” and said outreach is ongoing in all states.
“We don’t relax,” he said. “We keep reaching out to the population. This is your civic responsibility.”
He added that political parties must also mobilize voters. “There’s a limit to what we can do. We can’t be knocking at the doors of voters to come out,” he said.
READ ALSO: NEMA, ABU Deepen Strategic Partnership to Boost Disaster Risk Reduction, National Resilience
Experts declare child online abuse a Public Health Emergency
According to Gbadegesin, INEC is partnering with traditional rulers, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders. “We’ve been in all the states. Stakeholders are always asking questions, and we’ll be inviting them to meetings at regular times,” he said.
On vote buying, Gbadegesin said INEC has partnered with anti-graft agencies to tackle the problem but noted that the Commission’s powers are limited.
About The Author
