As preparation begins ahead of the 2027 general election, eminent Nigerians, including renowned economist Pat Utomi; former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega; and former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili, are among several prominent Nigerians launching a new electoral reform platform called Alliance for Defence of Democracy on October 1.
The movement is described as a popular alternative to drive and structure the campaign and mobilisation process for the critical electoral reform in the country.
Other prominent Nigerians behind the platform include; the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero; Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Olisa Agbakoba and Femi Falana; along with Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Tinubu; President of the African School of Governance, Kingsley Moghalu; and a chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Buba Galadima.
This initiative was announced in a statement by the spokesperson for the National Consultative Front, NCFront, Hamisu San Turaki.
The statement indicated that the ADD would serve as an alternative movement to promote and structure electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 election.
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“The National Consultative Front, in collaboration with Labour and Civil Society Front, will be launching a mass campaign and movement during a major National Dialogue on Electoral Reforms to mobilise Nigerians home and abroad for critical reforms in Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of the 2027 elections.
“In the same vein, the initiators have decided to launch a new electoral reform platform to be known as Alliance for Defence of Democracy, on October 1st as a popular alternative movement to drive and structure the campaign and mobilisation process for these critical electoral reform during the major national gathering on electoral reforms to be addressed by the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, among other leaders of conscience in Nigeria,” the statement read.
At the October 1 meet, the statement held that leaders of the civil society and labour will launch a mass movement mobilising Nigerians to push for reforms in the nation’s electoral system.
Specifically, the statement held that the new move is to drive critical reforms in the electoral laws of Nigeria, especially those that dimmed the credibility of the 2023 elections namely; compulsory electronic transmission of election results, effective criminalization of votes buying, enactment of early and diaspora voting as initiated by the House of Representatives, proportional representation in government, especially special seats for women and other vulnerable groups, among others.
Others to push the new electoral reform at the October 1 national dialogue are, Amb Nkoyo Toyo, Usman Bugaje, Jibrin Ibrahim, Clem Nwankwo, Isah El Buba, Imam Ahmad, Chidi Odinkalu, Bilikisu Magoro, Samson Itodo, among others.
Some members of the National Consultative Front are among those who participated in the recent National Constitutional Summit organised by eminent Nigerians known as The Patriots and the Nigeria Political Summit Group.
