Some Nigerian political leaders have urged the Federal Government to fix the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the 2027 general elections to restore public trust and enhance electoral credibility.
The leaders, including former ministers and governors, made the call on Monday in Abuja during a high-level panel discussion hosted by the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership.
The theme of the event was “Innovation in Electoral Technology 2015 – 2025 Gains, Gaps, and the Road Ahead.”
The event equally featured the launch of the Athena Election Observatory, an initiative designed to monitor and document electoral reforms, innovations, and governance trends in Nigeria and across Africa.
The panellists were Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo; Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal; former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; and former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, who is also the Chancellor of the Athena Centre.
Speaking at the forum, Prof. Soludo emphasised that credible elections reflect the quality of governance and institutional integrity, adding that reforms should focus on deepening public trust and institutional independence.
“The critical question is how we can make our institutions work. We have made some progress, but we still have a long way to go in building trust in the process,” Soludo said.
On his part, Governor, Dauda Lawal, linked democratic success to respect for the rule of law and accountability in governance.
“We cannot talk about democracy without the rule of law. The rule of law guarantees fairness, justice, and peace in society,” he said.
