Nigerians facing disillusionment rather than hope despite decades of democracy – CSOs

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Nigerians facing disillusionment rather than hope despite decades of democracy – CSOs

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations has said the realities faced by Nigerians today often reflect disillusionment rather than hope despite decades of democratic practice.

The Coalition said Nigeria’s democratic journey, though spanning 25 years of uninterrupted civilian rule, is beset by structural and functional flaws.

Ahead of a conference on “Strengthening Nigerian Democracy, the CSOs including, the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development, Centre LSD, Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD, Westminster for Democracy, WfD, Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa, PAACA, and National Peace Committee said there was need for conversations aimed at tackling Nigeria’s pressing challenges.

Addressing a press conference on behalf of the CSOs on Thursday in Abuja, the Executive Director, Centre LSD, Otive Igbuzor said the CSOs are ready to address electoral malpractices, ineffective political parties, and weakened governance structures to pervasive corruption and a concerning erosion of public trust.

He said for too long, the political landscape in Nigeria has been dominated by elite cliques, leaving citizens feeling alienated from the governance processes that directly impact their lives.

Igbuzor pointed out that political parties are the bedrock of any democracy, yet in Nigeria, they often fall short of the ideals of transparency, accountability, and responsiveness.

Igbuzor stated: “The very purpose of the conference lies in a vision for a democracy that is genuine, resilient, and inclusive. As many of us know, Nigeria’s democratic journey, though spanning 25 years of uninterrupted civilian rule, is beset by structural and functional flaws.

“Despite decades of democratic practice, the realities faced by Nigerians today often reflect disillusionment rather than hope. The goal of the conference, therefore, is to reignite hope, rebuild trust, and lay out a road map toward a strengthened democratic system that serves all Nigerians with integrity and accountability.

“First, we recognize an urgent need for democratic reforms. At the heart of our democratic challenges lies the pressing requirement for a political environment free of manipulation, imposition, and exclusion.”