The Just Friends Club of Nigeria (JFCN) has urged Nigerians to scrutinise the records, programmes and promises of political parties and candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It said this would be a key focus of its 8th Annual Public Lecture, scheduled for Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at Bolingo Hotels, Abuja.

The club disclosed this in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Ngozi John-Uyah.

The lecture, themed “From Concern to Action: Making Our Votes Count in the 2027 General Elections,” will feature human rights lawyer and democracy advocate, Mr. Clement Nwankwo, as keynote speaker.

The club said it had invited the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) to nominate representatives for a panel discussion on voter responsibility, credible elections and democratic accountability.

According to John-Uyah, the discussion will examine how citizens can translate concerns about governance, electoral credibility and national development into meaningful democratic action.

Other issues expected to feature include voter participation, responsible political engagement, electoral accountability and the need to elect leaders who can be held accountable for their actions and promises.

President of the club, Chief Amaechi Aloke, said the 2027 elections offered Nigerians an opportunity to influence the country’s direction through informed political choices.

“Elections should be about more than winning power. Nigerians must examine the records, programmes and promises of those seeking office. We invited the major political parties because fairness and accountability are essential to strengthening our democracy,” Aloke said.

The statement added that journalist, broadcaster and political analyst, Augustine Okhiria Agbonsuremi, would participate as a non-aligned panellist.

Agbonsuremi, who has more than 35 years of media experience, is the Executive Director of the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development (PRIMORG) and producer and anchor of Deep Insight with Agbonsuremi.

Nwankwo, Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), has more than three decades of experience in human rights advocacy, democratic governance, election monitoring and legislative reform.

He co-founded the Civil Liberties Organisation in 1987, established the Constitutional Rights Project and served as founding chairman of the Transition Monitoring Group, which monitored Nigeria’s 1999 elections.

He also served as convener of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, a coalition that has contributed to election observation, electoral accountability and advocacy for democratic reforms.

The Just Friends Club of Nigeria is a non-profit socio-cultural and philanthropic organisation committed to friendship, mutual support, community service and national development.

Since its inaugural public lecture in 2014, the club’s lecture series has featured personalities including Benjamin Ezra Dikki, Tony Ejinkeonye, Dr Abraham Nwankwo, Rev. Fr. George Ehusani, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, Dr Sam Amadi and former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.).