Yiaga Africa Urges Leaders: Rebuild Trust, Put Citizens First in Democracy  

By Joseph Sunday

As Nigeria observed 2026 Democracy Day, Yiaga Africa urged the nation’s leaders to move beyond the symbolism of June 12 and build a democracy that truly serves its citizens.

In a statement signed by Executive Director Samson Itodo, the organization said June 12 should be both remembrance and reckoning. It honors the sacrifices that restored civilian rule, but it also demands a new social compact that places Nigerians at the center of governance.

Nigeria has now completed 27 uninterrupted years of civilian rule, marked by regular elections and a historic peaceful presidential transition. Yet Yiaga Africa warned that democratic consolidation remains incomplete.

The group cited persistent challenges: logistical failures during elections, electoral violence, and weak accountability for offenders. It also criticized political parties for prioritizing elite interests over public needs. Insecurity, poverty, and poor service delivery, it added, continue to weaken public faith in democracy.

A renewed compact, Yiaga Africa argued, must rest on three pillars: credible elections, genuinely independent institutions, and real consequences for abuse of power. Equally important is protecting civic space so young people, women, and persons with disabilities can organize, protest, and influence policy without fear of reprisal.

“Democracy Day is significant, but unfinished,” Itodo said. “The next chapter depends on whether citizens are empowered not just to vote, but to co-create the democratic future they deserve.”