Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has urged the Nigerian government, electoral bodies, and political actors to take immediate steps to strengthen democratic institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections. The call came in a statement issued in Abuja following a board meeting, jointly signed by CAPPA Board chairman Auwal Musa Rafsanjani and Executive Director Akinbode Oluwafemi. CAPPA stressed that the credibility of the upcoming elections hinges on the commitment of all levels of government, institutions, and political actors to uphold the rule of law. The organisation warned that Nigeria cannot afford another electoral cycle tainted by irregularities, hate speech, and declining public trust.
CAPPA emphasized that free, fair, and inclusive elections must occur in an environment free from violence, voter suppression, and political intimidation. It urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to begin early preparations to ensure transparency and accountability in the electoral process. The judiciary was also called upon to resist any attempts to undermine the will of the people. CAPPA highlighted the damaging role of money in politics, warning that vote-buying and institutional capture by powerful interests erode governance and public confidence. Political parties were urged to practice internal democracy, as lack of due process within party structures contributes to broader electoral instability.
The organisation expressed deep concern over Nigeria's worsening security situation, noting that despite high budgetary allocations, citizens still face daily threats from killings, kidnappings, and violent attacks. It pointed out that ransom payments have become routine due to ineffective state protection. CAPPA called for a comprehensive review of the country's security architecture with a focus on intelligence, community engagement, and justice for victims. On the economy, it noted that recent reforms like fuel subsidy removal and increased subnational allocations have not brought relief to most Nigerians. Many households continue to struggle with inflation, food insecurity, unemployment, and reduced purchasing power. CAPPA stressed that fiscal reforms must not harm the most vulnerable.
CAPPA highlights a contradiction between massive security spending and the government's inability to stop routine ransom payments by Nigerians to violent groups. If public funds are not translating into protection for citizens, then the current security architecture serves more as a budget line than a functional shield. Millions of Nigerians are effectively left to negotiate for their lives in a system that collects taxes but fails to deliver basic safety. The 2027 elections cannot be credible if voters are too afraid to participate or too impoverished to care.
💡 NaijaBuzz is an AI-assisted news aggregator. This content is curated from third-party sources — NaijaBuzz is not the original publisher and is not responsible for the accuracy of source reporting. The NaijaBuzz Take is AI-assisted editorial opinion only, not established fact. All persons mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. NaijaBuzz does not endorse the views expressed in source articles.
