2027: DON’T STOP AT VOTING, HOLD TINUBU GOVT ACCOUNTABLE — EGWU URGES NIGERIANS

Former Resident Electoral Commissioner Prof. Sam Egwu has urged Nigerians to remain involved in governance beyond election day, saying democracy requires citizens to question policies and demand answers from elected leaders.

Speaking at the 20th anniversary of the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education in Abuja, Egwu warned that restrictions on civic participation and media freedom could weaken democratic accountability.

He described civic space as essential to allowing people and organisations to express their views, organise freely and influence public decisions.

“Where civic space is open, citizens and civil society organisations are able to organise, participate and communicate without hindrance,” he said.

Egwu also questioned how the Tinubu administration had accounted for the consequences of major economic policies, including fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate unification, tax changes and electricity tariffs.

He said Nigerians deserved clearer explanations of how decisions were made, whose interests were considered and how government would address their effects.

Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Dayo Olaide, said protecting democracy was a shared responsibility.

He encouraged citizens to speak up, safeguard the credibility of elections and assess whether elected governments were improving people’s lives.

“It goes beyond simply going out to vote. We must also ensure that our votes count,” he said.

The organisation’s Executive Director, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, said its work over two decades had focused on reducing citizens’ exclusion from governance through civic education, electoral integrity and support for vulnerable groups.

Two publications documenting its civic engagement and public interventions were also unveiled during the anniversary celebration.