The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, on Thursday expressed concern that allegations of corruption within Nigeria’s electoral system continue to erode public confidence in the country’s democratic process.
Akume stated this while delivering a lecture at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, as part of activities marking the 2026 Democracy Day celebration.
Speaking on the theme, “27 Years of Democratic Governance: Achievements, Challenges and the Road Ahead,” the SGF said Nigeria had recorded significant democratic gains since returning to civilian rule in 1999 but warned that persistent concerns about electoral integrity remained a threat to democratic consolidation.
According to him, allegations of corruption in the electoral process have continued to undermine citizens’ trust in elections and democratic institutions.
“Electoral integrity remains a work in progress. While our electoral management body and the judiciary have demonstrated growing independence, persistent allegations of corruption in the electoral system and processes remain critical to its integrity.
“Democracy is not merely the act of voting; it is the guarantee that every vote counts equally,” Akume said.
He stressed the need for Nigerians to actively participate in strengthening democratic institutions and protecting the country’s democratic achievements.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s democratic journey over the past 27 years, Akume described the period as one marked by resilience, determination and notable progress.
He stated that the country had successfully conducted eight consecutive general elections and witnessed peaceful transfers of power across political parties and regions, including what he described as a historic transition from a ruling party to the opposition.
“The democratic journey since 1999 has nevertheless had its challenges. The significant lesson however is that it has been a journey of resilience and determination. Nigeria has conducted eight successive general elections each one testing, and ultimately affirming, the democratic will of our people.
“We have achieved back-to-back peaceful transfer of power from one civilian administration to another, across party lines, and across the diverse regions of our great nation. We have also experienced a transfer from a sitting government to the opposition, ” he said.
Despite these achievements, he urged stakeholders to address challenges undermines the confidence in democracy.
“While acknowledging the gains of democratic governance, Nigeria must confront lingering challenges threatening the credibility of its democratic process,” he said.
The SGF also cautioned against allowing ethnic, religious and regional divisions to weaken the country’s democratic foundations.
“Finally let me leave us all with a charge. Nigeria is worth all our sacrifices and our democracy is worth defending.
“The present and upcoming generations are standing on the shoulders of those who struggled for civil rule and they have both the responsibility and the opportunity to build the nation our founding fathers envisioned and which our children deserve to inherit,” he added.
Akume highlighted achievements recorded under democratic governance, including economic expansion, improved financial inclusion and investments in critical infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway.
He also cited reforms in the power sector and expanded access to education and healthcare through initiatives including the National Health Insurance Scheme, the Universal Basic Education programme and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
Describing the Democracy Day lecture as an opportunity for national reflection, Akume challenged Nigerians to envision the type of democracy they hoped to build over the next 27 years.
Concerns over electoral malpractice, vote-buying, result manipulation and other forms of corruption have continued to generate debates about the credibility of elections and public trust in democratic institutions.
Electoral reforms have remained a recurring issue, with stakeholders repeatedly calling for measures to strengthen transparency, accountability and confidence in the electoral process.
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