A coalition of Nigeria’s most prominent political leaders, civil society figures and labour activists has sounded the alarm over the future of the country’s democracy, warning that without urgent electoral reforms, the 2027 general elections could collapse into another crisis of legitimacy.
The warning came at the weekend during a high-level consultative meeting in Lagos, convened by the National Consultative Front (NCFront) in collaboration with the Labour and Civil Society Front (LCSF). The gathering resolved to convene a National Dialogue on Electoral Reforms on October 1, 2025 — a platform expected to galvanise nationwide action.
According to NCFront spokesperson Mallam Hamisu San Turaki, the Lagos meeting also agreed to formally launch the Alliance for Defence of Democracy (ADD), a new coalition platform dedicated to pushing through far-reaching electoral reforms.
Among the heavyweight reform advocates are former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega; human rights lawyers Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) and Femi Falana (SAN); ex-presidential hopefuls Prof. Pat Utomi and Prof. Kingsley Moghalu; Nigeria Labour Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero; former Minister, Oby Ezekwesili; northern elder, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed; rights activist, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu; and political veterans including Buba Galadima and Dr. Usman Bugaje.
The reforms being demanded include: compulsory electronic transmission of results, tougher laws to criminalize vote-buying, provisions for early and diaspora voting, adoption of proportional representation, and reserved seats for women and other underrepresented groups.
“The credibility of the 2023 elections was badly compromised. If we go into 2027 with the same framework, Nigeria’s democracy will suffer further erosion,” one NCFront leader warned.
The October 1 dialogue — to be headlined by NLC President Joe Ajaero — is expected to serve as the launchpad for what organisers describe as “a mass movement to defend democracy and rescue Nigeria’s electoral system from collapse.”
