Jane Salihu
The Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD) and The Electoral Hub have urged Nigerians to look beyond elections as the sole measure of democracy, stressing that citizens must be able to influence government decisions, access information and demand accountability throughout the electoral cycle.
The organisations made the call in a statement signed by the Director of The Electoral Hub, Princess Abijah Hamman-Obels, to mark the 2026 International Day of Democracy.
They said democracy should be reflected in citizens’ everyday experiences, including access to public services, participation in policymaking, protection of human rights and the ability to hold public institutions accountable.
According to the statement, the 2026 commemoration, themed by the United Nations, “When Every Voice Counts, Democracy Delivers,” provides an opportunity to assess whether citizens are merely participating in elections or are also being given meaningful opportunities to influence decisions between elections.
The organisations said: “Democracy extends beyond elections. While credible, inclusive, peaceful, and transparent elections are fundamental to democratic governance, democracy must also be sustained between election periods through effective lawmaking, transparent budgeting, public consultations, oversight, civic engagement, access to information, and public service delivery.”
IRIAD and The Electoral Hub argued that public institutions must be responsive, transparent, accessible and accountable, saying citizens should be able to raise concerns, engage decision-makers and see their participation reflected in governance outcomes.
They also linked effective democratic participation to the protection of human rights, including freedom of expression, access to information, freedom of association and peaceful assembly, equity and non-discrimination.
The organisations expressed concern that women, young people, persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups continue to face social, economic, political and institutional barriers that limit their participation in public affairs.
They called for greater opportunities for women to move beyond being voters and campaign mobilisers to become leaders, policymakers and decision-makers, while urging political parties to remove barriers limiting the participation of underrepresented groups.
The organisations also called on the National Assembly to strengthen human-rights protections, exercise effective oversight and create more opportunities for citizens to engage the legislative process. They specifically urged lawmakers to pass the Special Seats for Women Bill.
On citizens’ responsibilities, IRIAD and The Electoral Hub urged Nigerians to vote, seek information, engage their representatives, participate in community decisions and demand accountability, stressing that democratic participation should not be limited to election day.
They equally charged the media and digital platforms to protect the public’s right to know by promoting accurate, independent and responsible information while countering misinformation and disinformation.
The organisations called on civil society groups to continue providing civic education, amplifying marginalised voices, monitoring public institutions and defending human rights.
They said democracy should ultimately be assessed not only by how leaders are elected but also by whether citizens can exercise their rights, influence decisions, access essential services and participate equitably in shaping their communities and country.
The statement concluded that gender equity, inclusion, human rights, accountability and responsive governance are fundamental components of a functioning democracy.
The United Nations’ 2026 International Day of Democracy theme similarly places emphasis on creating meaningful opportunities for people to influence decisions affecting their lives and strengthening trust through participation and dialogue.
