As the world commemorates the International Day of Democracy, ActionAid Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to uphold accountability and the rule of law amid mounting threats to democracy.
The Country Director of Action Aid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, in a statement on Monday, said the theme of the celebration, “From Voice to Action,” serves as a powerful call on the government to move beyond merely expressing the will of the people to taking decisive steps to translate that will into tangible results and good governance (action).
He said, “For Nigeria, this year’s commemoration is not a theoretical exercise; it is an urgent demand for a system where the voice of the people is not just heard, but is acted upon to repair the fractures in our democracy and ensure its foundational pillars are not eroded.”
He further stated, “Our democracy is at a critical juncture. While we have sustained a continuous civilian rule for over two and a half decades, the promise of democracy, accountability, good governance, and credible elections remains, for many, an illusion.”
He highlighted the recent 2025 Chandler Good Government Index, which ranked Nigeria at a dismal 116th out of 120 countries, and the Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance, which places us 33rd out of 54 African nations.
He stated that the figures are not mere statistics, but a damning indictment of a system that is failing to deliver on its most basic duties. Adding that the trust deficit is palpable, he noted that it stems from a leadership that often operates without genuine accountability to the citizens it purports to serve.
He added, “These figures, alongside a national unemployment rate that has remained stubbornly high and a multidimensional poverty index showing that a third of our population lives in abject poverty, paint a picture of a democracy that is not delivering on its promise.”
Citing the instances of declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State and the refusal of the National Assembly to comply with the Appeal Court judgement on reinstating Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, they urged the government to learn from the Gen Z-led movement for accountability and democratic reform in Nepal.
The organisation stated that “for Nigeria’s democracy to thrive, it must empower its youth and engage with their demands for good governance, for it is this generation that will either inherit a broken system or build a more equitable one.”
ActionAid Nigeria, however, called on all tiers of government and stakeholders, including the judiciary, civil society, and every Nigerian citizen, to demonstrate a renewed commitment to accountability.
They also demanded the immediate reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to her senatorial seat in compliance with the Federal High Court’s judgment.
They also stated that the Presidency must be held accountable by refraining from actions that undermine federalism, as seen in the Rivers State crisis, and that the National Assembly must also be held accountable by fulfilling its role of checking and balancing the Executive arm.
Furthermore, they called for the swift passage of electoral reform legislation, including provisions for electronic transmission of results, to ensure that our electoral process is transparent and accountable.
They urged the Judiciary to truly be the hope of the common man and to be bold and prompt in delivering judgements on issues of national interest, especially those that impact the interpretation of our constitution, such as cases involving the President’s ability to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State and to remove an elected Governor and serving members of the State House of Assembly.
