The All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial aspirant for the 2027 election in Oyo state, Barrister Adedeji Akeem Agbaje, on Tuesday said there was still hope in Nigeria democratic journey.

Barrister Agbaje stated this while delivering a lecture themed: “Governance, Democracy, Politicians and Society – Bridging the gap between expectation and delivery”, as part of the programmes to mark the Oyo NUJ 2025 press week.

The APC governorship aspirant stressed that democracy cannot thrive on words alone, but nurtured by actions that placed the people at the centre of governance.

“Nigeria’s democratic journey is still evolving, and while there have been setbacks, there is still hope”, he said.

Barrister Agbaje added, “We can make democracy work if we rebuild trust, promote justice, and put service above self”.

“To the members of the Press gathered here, your pen remains one of the strongest instruments of change. Use it to enlighten, to challenge and to build”.

According to the APC governorship aspirant, “a free, responsible, and patriotic press is the backbone of any enduring democracy”.

Speaking further, Barrister Agbaje stressed that the resulting trust deficit between the government and the governed has become one of the most pressing challenges of our time. 

The APC governorship aspirant noted, “It is not enough to lament this failure; we must identify its causes and propose workable solutions that can restore faith in our democracy.”