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As Nigeria observes the 2025 Democracy Day, the Liberal Progressive and Patriotic Members Congress (LPPMC), joined by a coalition of respected civil rights activists, has delivered a sweeping condemnation of the country’s current democratic state. At a virtual dialogue commemorating June 12, the group declared that the Nigerian judiciary has effectively “legitimized electoral heists” and warned that the nation is regressing into what it described as “electoral autocracy.”

The coalition, which features well-known figures including Dr. Kingsley Okundaye, National Coordinator of LPPMC; Hon. Casimir Biriyok; Dr. Sam Amadi; Chief Olusola Ebiseni, Secretary General of Afenifere; and Hon. Jonathan Asake, former Labour Party gubernatorial candidate in Kaduna State, called for urgent reforms, particularly within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). They demanded a comprehensive review of INEC’s biometric voter register as a critical step towards restoring credibility to future elections, especially the 2027 general polls.

The group pressed further, advocating the adoption of blockchain-based voting technology to eliminate tampering and electoral fraud. They also recommended that INEC mandate live streaming of all result collation processes to enhance transparency and build public trust in the electoral system.

In a strongly worded communiqué, the LPPMC and its partners accused the judiciary of enabling democratic decay. “Nigerian courts have legitimized electoral heists, and democracy has eventually become tyrannical,” the statement read. To counter this, they proposed an immediate constitutional amendment to penalize judicial officers who compromise electoral justice.

The group emphasized the need for INEC to strictly observe a 90-day limit for resolving election petitions to avoid undue delay in justice delivery. They also addressed longstanding concerns about equitable power sharing, asserting that despite 25 years of democratic governance, the marginalization of northern Nigeria in power rotation remains unresolved. To address this, they called for constitutional recognition of rotational power-sharing between the six geopolitical zones and across religious divides.

Further criticisms were directed at what the group sees as unfair local government area (LGA) allocations, with calls for an immediate review of the current structure. In a move to promote inclusivity and gender balance, they endorsed a 40 percent leadership quota for women and youth in line with national gender policy.

Opening the session, Dr. Kingsley Okundaye emphasized the enduring significance of June 12 in Nigeria’s democratic evolution. “June 12 is not merely a date on Nigeria’s national calendar,” he said. “It is the heartbeat of Nigeria’s democratic struggle, a reminder of the sacrifices made by heroes like MKO Abiola, Kudirat Abiola, and countless others who dared to dream of a Nigeria governed by the people’s will.”

Reflecting on Nigeria’s current challenges, Dr. Okundaye lamented that “our democracy faces existential threats—institutions weaponized against the people’s sovereignty, elections that mock the very concept of popular mandate, and economic hardship deliberately deployed to suppress dissent.”

Despite this bleak outlook, he expressed optimism in the resilience of the Nigerian people. “Yet, like the proverbial palm tree, the Nigerian spirit cannot be broken. This dialogue serves three urgent purposes represented in 3Rs: Remember, Resist, and Rebuild,” he declared.

He explained the symbolic importance of the 3Rs, saying, “To remember is by honoring the blood and tears that birthed this democracy. To resist is to expose the current assault on democratic values. To rebuild is by charting the path to reclaiming Nigeria through coalition-building across progressive forces.”

Dr. Okundaye challenged the audience to engage boldly in democratic advocacy. “We must ensure grassroots mobilization that transcends ethnic divides and electoral vigilance to protect every vote in 2027. As we engage, I challenge us to: Speak with courage but also with strategic clarity, to move beyond lamentations to actionable solutions, and to reject divisive narratives and embrace our shared Nigerian identity.”

Reaffirming LPPMC’s leadership role in the democratic revival, he disclosed that the organization is preparing for an expansive grassroots mobilization strategy in the run-up to 2027. This will include the formation of coalition groups across the 36 states and the FCT, the launch of Democracy Literacy Campaigns in all 774 LGAs, and the enforcement of a coalition for electoral integrity starting July 1.

According to Dr. Okundaye, INEC has been given a deadline of August 30 to clean up the voter register, with mass voter education set to begin on September 12. “Let today’s dialogue ignite the spark that will light the fire of change across Nigeria,” he said, calling on citizens to rise in defense of their democratic rights.

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