Stakeholders in Nigeria’s democratic process have faulted political parties over their lack of clear ideological direction and the exclusion of women and other underrepresented groups from decision-making.

They called for stronger institutions, greater accountability and inclusive governance.

The stakeholders made the call at a colloquium marking the 60th birthday of civic advocate, Comrade Ezenwa Nwagwu, and the public presentation of his book, “Eze Unhinged: Electoral Reforms. A Participant’s View and Reflection,” in Abuja.

Former presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, identified distrust in the electoral process, insecurity, logistical challenges, dissatisfaction with candidates and perceptions of predetermined outcomes as factors contributing to declining voter turnout in Nigeria.

He warned that widespread poverty was also undermining citizens’ capacity to participate meaningfully in democracy.

Olawepo-Hashim, who was represented by the Vice-Chancellor of Baze University, Prof. Abiodun Gabriel Adeniyi, said presidential election turnout fell from 69.08 per cent in 2003 to 26.71 per cent in 2023, according to International IDEA figures cited in his address.

He urged authorities to restore public confidence in elections by making them safer, more accessible, transparent and meaningful, rather than blaming citizens for withdrawing from a process in which they had lost confidence.

He argued that democracy should be judged not only by the institutions a country established but also by the opportunities they created for citizens to live with dignity and contribute to national development.

“Poverty does not extinguish political rights, but it can diminish the capacity to exercise them when survival consumes the time, resources, and energy required for meaningful participation,” he said.

According to him, a country could conduct elections and maintain constitutional institutions while millions of its citizens struggled to afford food, housing, healthcare, transportation and education.

He called for economic reforms that would translate Nigeria’s natural resources into jobs, enterprise, productive capacity and improved living standards, citing high energy costs as an example of the disconnect between the country’s resource wealth and the conditions experienced by households and businesses.

Olawepo-Hashim advocated transparent cost accounting, reliable domestic crude supply and efficient refining, alongside attention to foreign exchange, logistics and taxation, as part of efforts to reduce energy costs.

Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, criticised Nigerian political parties for what he described as a lack of clear ideological direction, arguing that the country had yet to develop a sustainable democratic system despite 27 years of uninterrupted civilian rule.

He urged citizens to understand their power within the democratic system and demand accountability from elected officials, rather than leave the ownership of democracy to politicians.

Melaye identified representation, lawmaking and oversight as the three fundamental responsibilities of legislators, arguing that effective performance of these duties would improve democratic governance.

He also advocated a national identity that guaranteed Nigerians equal civic rights wherever they chose to live within the federation, while urging political parties to provide meaningful opportunities for women and young people.

The celebrant, Nwagwu, identified restrictive cultural practices, financial constraints and political interests as major obstacles to inclusive democracy, particularly the participation of women in political parties.

He argued that democracy could not be considered inclusive when significant sections of society were excluded from political decision-making.

Nwagwu criticised the limited representation of women in political party leadership structures, arguing that assigning them designated leadership positions did not necessarily give them sufficient influence over party decisions.

He called on political parties to dismantle the financial, cultural and political barriers preventing women and other underrepresented groups from participating fully in politics.

The President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr. Ike Neliaku, called on political leaders to move beyond ethnic, religious and generational divisions, arguing that inclusion was essential to national progress.

Neliaku said Nigeria had capable people across its different communities but often allowed diversity to shape political and social relationships in ways that hindered development.

He advocated collaboration between younger and older Nigerians, saying both groups had complementary strengths that could improve governance.

According to him, young people offered energy, creativity and innovation, while older generations brought experience, networks and institutional knowledge.

Earlier, the chairman of the colloquium, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, called for independent democratic institutions, wider economic opportunities and a national identity that transcended ethnic loyalties.

Chiroma said Nigeria needed to move from an era dominated by powerful individuals to one in which institutions operated independently and protected citizens regardless of their political affiliation or social status.