Democracy Day: CISLAC expresses deep concern about Nigeria’s electoral system

As Nigeria marks Democracy Day and the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has expressed deep concern about the electoral system, saying it has lost credibility among Nigerians.

CISLAC, in a statement issued by its Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, painted a grim picture of the current state of Nigeria’s democratic institutions, saying “Right now, the nation’s democratic institutions are at their weakest points and consistently failing the people, while authoritarian tendencies continue to rise”.

According to Rafsanjani, the erosion of public trust, rampant corruption, impunity, compromised electoral processes, and shrinking civic space are clear indicators of a deliberate undermining of democratic values.

He urged political leaders to retrace their steps to safeguard the democratic rule that was fiercely fought for, warning that instead of building on past gains, Nigeria is regressing into “a governance model defined by unaccountable leadership, weak institutions, killings, and absolute exclusion of citizens from decision-making.”

“Elections have become mere exercises in futility for many citizens, marked by violence, voter suppression, vote buying, and judicial interference in electoral outcomes,” Rafsanjani explained.