Kadaria warns leaders to avoid change outside the ballot

As the 2027 elections draw near, young Nigerians have been told that to take charge of their political future. The advice was given at Zikoko Citizen Townhall with the theme, “Who Shapes the Nigerian Life?”

Held at the Four Points by Sheraton, Victoria Island, Lagos, the gathering brought together industry leaders, political analysts, finance and media expert who dissected the psychological and financial toll of regulatory uncertainty, offering a pragmatic roadmap for founders navigating one of the world’s most volatile business environments.

The lead Speaker at the event, Ikemesit Effiong who spoke on the topic, Who Really Shapes the Nigerian Life? Turning Data into Democratic Power, said over the last few years, SBM Intelligence data indicates that Nigerians should be angrier and more powerful than politics suggests.

He said in 2023, SBM Intelligence ran polling and issue‑based research across the country and it discovered that young Nigerians were more engaged in conversations, more tuned into issues, and more emotionally invested than in any recent cycle. But when the official turnout numbers came out, especially for younger voters, they were still far below what that energy should have produced.

He stated that on paper, young people are the largest voting bloc, especially first‑time voters, but, in reality, youth representation on the ballot and in office remains thin, and youth turnout lags behind youth anger.

He said Nigerians are intensely focused on the presidential race, but knowledge and engagement dropped off sharply for governorship and legislative contests, neglecting where a lot of day‑to‑day power sits.

He said: “Young Nigerians should take charge of their political destiny. Political engagement, activism is great but the power lies in political participation. We don’t have many young Nigerians and females as candidates and that has to change.

“Nigerian youths are not channelling their positive anger; lawmakers can be recalled, off-circle elections, by-election can be used to send messages to the political class, focus on policy issue activation, write to the media and make their voices heard. If young Nigerians are organise enough, they will become an institutional voice politicians can recon with.

“Nigerians must consistently vote out bad leaders; I don’t like revolution because it’s inherently had to control. Revolution could start with one issue and escalate to other issues. It’s better for revolution to happen at the ballot box. Will violent revolution send a message?, yes, will it send the right message? Often time, no, will it lead to desirable change? the outcome is 50/50 so, the ballot box is the most sustainable approach.

When asked if japa (leaving the country) or staying is the best option for young people, he said: “This is the fourth major mass emigration in Nigeria post independence; the first was after the civil war, the second was after the structural adjustment, the third was during the Sani Abacha era, and, this is the fourth wave. It’s better to stay and shift the country into development. If we stay, we can put in the hard work to ensure Nigeria change.

“Nigerians must know that their decision to stay at home during elections, decision to vote, sell their votes, stand out in the sun to have their PVCs has consequences.”

Speaking on the panel session with the topic, Innovation Under Pressure, Founding Partner, Weav Capital, Amaka Okechukwu Okpara, said there must be a continuous engagement on policies that will ensure improvement and spearhead innovations in Nigeria.

Speaking on the policies of the Bola Tinubu administration, she said the partial removal of the fuel subsidy was critical for Nigeria growth as the country was wallowing in unsustainable debt.

“We do not want to go the path of Ghana where there will be default on debt. Subsidy removal was a good move but it can’t solve the problem when the government spending has increased. The government does not have fiscal discipline on the budget.

“The government needs to work with companies; many companies are closing in Nigeria and the cost of doing business in Nigeria is too high. Cost of power is high so, there’s need for a clear policy to solve the power situation. Businesses cannot be made to pay up to 30 per cent interest rate to borrow to grow their businesses, this is not a sustainable policy.

‘It’s commendable that the government is focusing on tax but it’s not enough to collect, there must be discipline, giving to businesses. Sadly, busines owners are building their own roads, digging borehole for water so, the conversation on tax collection and the use should go hand-in-hand. We have institution but what we need is fiscal discipline on the part of the government.

Speaking also, ace Nigerian journalist, Kadaria Ahmed who spoke on the topic, Rebuilding Trust: Media, Democracy and the Nigerian Citizen, said democracy needs journalists and journalists are needed by the citizens to hold power accountable but there is a deliberate attempt to kill journalism globally because people don’t want to be held accountable.

“Despite the disdain Nigerians have for the media, I’m urging them to play close attention because the demarketing of the Nigerian media is essentially the demarketing of democracy.

When asked if revolution through the ballot or through trooping to the streets to ask non-performing politicians to leave is the best option, she said: “Democracy has not worked well for us for obvious reason but I don’t think it’s a lost case, I think we have to keep fighting. Revolution outside the ballot is not something that is orchestrated; Nigeria are still willing to change government through the ballot but politicians need to be careful that they don’t push Nigerians into going on the street to kick out leaders.

Speaking on the meeting, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Big Cabal Media, Anita Eboigbe, “We organised this because we need an avenue where youths will come together and learn how they can be involved in democracy, learn from experts about ways to be more intentional. We are looking at the outlook of the next election.

“Young people deserve to be involved. We found in our research that young people want to be guaranteed that their votes will count and have the opportunity to select and elect their leaders. Our position is that youths and women should get engaged with before the election.

“In our survey, over 83 per cent of the 10,000 youths we spoke with indicated their willingness to be part of the electoral process, they only want their presence and participation count.”