Some of Nigeria’s most prominent public figures are set to launch a new electoral reform platform on 1 October, in a move they say is aimed at defending democracy and reshaping the country’s electoral system before the 2027 polls.
The initiative, called the Alliance for Defence of Democracy (ADD), brings together a wide array of civil society leaders, labour unions, lawyers, and political reformers. Among them are economist Pat Utomi, former electoral commission chair Attahiru Jega, former education minister Oby Ezekwesili, labour congress president Joe Ajaero, senior lawyers Olisa Agbakoba and Femi Falana, and political figures such as Kingsley Moghalu, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed and Buba Galadima.
According to its organisers, the ADD is intended to be a “popular alternative movement” to coordinate campaigns and mobilise Nigerians at home and abroad for electoral reform. The announcement came in a statement by Hamisu San Turaki, spokesperson for the National Consultative Front, which is working with labour and civil society partners on the project.
At the launch, to be held during a national dialogue on electoral reform, leaders are expected to press for sweeping changes. These include compulsory electronic transmission of election results, criminalisation of vote-buying, introduction of early and diaspora voting, proportional representation, and reserved seats for women and other marginalised groups.
The group says the reforms are necessary after what it calls the “credibility setbacks” of the 2023 elections. Additional figures expected at the dialogue include Nkoyo Toyo, Usman Bugaje, Jibrin Ibrahim, Chidi Odinkalu and youth activist Samson Itodo.
Organisers argue that the new platform builds on momentum from recent constitutional summits convened by civic leaders, and signals a growing push for institutional reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the next electoral cycle.
