Senator Ede Dafinone, representing Delta Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has said Nigeria is still at the beginning of its democratic journey, despite steady improvements recorded since the return to civil rule in 1999.

Dafinone, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs, said the country’s democracy remained a work in progress, noting that Nigerians were gradually becoming more aware of the power of their votes and their responsibility to participate in the electoral process.

Speaking on the Nigerian Television Authority’s One on One programme with Cyril Stober, the senator said Nigeria should not expect to perfect its democracy overnight, given the relatively short period it had operated under uninterrupted democratic rule.

“The journey is a long one, and we are, in my opinion, still at the beginning of that journey. There are many Western democracies that are 200-plus years old. Nigeria, in that scheme, is still a very young democracy, and we are still learning to get it right,” he said.

Dafinone said successive elections since 1999 had demonstrated gradual improvements in Nigeria’s electoral process, even though challenges and controversies continued to affect the conduct of elections.
“Look at the elections that have been held from 1999 till date. There is a significant improvement with each passing election,” he said.

He recalled that the 2003 general elections were characterised by allegations of irregularities, but noted that the level of citizens’ awareness and participation had improved considerably by the 2023 elections.

According to him, Nigerians are increasingly appreciating the importance of registering to vote, obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards and turning out on Election Day to exercise their franchise.

“Nigerians appreciate that they should register to vote, get the Permanent Voter Cards, and step out and vote on Election Day. The turnout of Nigerians coming out to vote with each election and understanding the issues to which they vote for is growing with each passing election,” he said.

The senator said the growing political consciousness had strengthened citizens’ understanding that they possess the power to influence the choice of their representatives and the direction of government through their votes.
“Citizens appreciate that they do have a voice, and they do have a vote that they can use to control, direct, and put those in office who would speak for them,” he stressed.

While acknowledging that Nigeria’s democracy was not perfect, Dafinone expressed optimism that the country was moving in the right direction.
He said the consolidation of democracy required sustained citizen participation, stronger institutions and continuous improvements in the electoral process.

Dafinone also noted that democratic participation in Nigeria should not be viewed solely through the prism of Western-style elections, arguing that traditional institutions and community governance structures also provide important channels for citizens to express their concerns and participate in governance.

He cited his Delta Central Senatorial District as an example, explaining that communities operate through traditional structures where community leaders report to dukes, who in turn report to the king.
“So we can talk about Western democracy and elections and voting and government, but there are other channels for people having a voice as well,” he said.

The senator stressed that traditional governance structures remained relevant to the Nigerian context and could complement the formal democratic system by providing additional avenues for community representation and engagement.

Dafinone, a chartered accountant, industrialist, environmentalist, farmer and exporter, also serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Legislative Compliance Committee.