The Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement aka ‘YIAGA Africa’, a leading civil society group, has warned that Nigeria’s democracy will continue to suffer unless urgent reforms are made for political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during a meeting with lawmakers, Samson Itodo, Convener of YIAGA Africa, stressed that Nigeria holds a strategic position in Africa’s political landscape. According to him, fixing Nigeria’s democracy—especially its political parties—could inspire positive change across the continent.
“Strong democracies need strong political parties,” Itodo said. “But in Nigeria, our parties are weak, often controlled by the highest bidders and powerful individuals, rather than built on ideas and the will of the people.”
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He pointed out that most Nigerian political parties are not trusted by citizens because they focus more on personal interests than the common good. Itodo highlighted a long-standing call for party reforms, recalling that conversations about fixing political parties started over 17 years ago.
He described the new Political Parties Bill as a “promising step” that could rescue Nigeria’s fragile democracy. While admitting the bill isn’t perfect, he urged lawmakers to focus on its progressive aspects, saying it offers a rare chance to make parties more open, democratic, and accountable.
Itodo also condemned the current practice where party leaders handpick candidates without proper consultation, locking out competent individuals who genuinely want to serve. “Parties should be platforms for debate and service, not for oppression and selfish power struggles,” he said.
He criticized the high costs of nomination forms, saying they block many talented Nigerians from participating in politics. He called for a better system of funding political parties that would not destroy their credibility.
On the issue of politicians frequently switching parties, Itodo said the trend shows that Nigeria’s party system is fundamentally broken. He urged lawmakers to embrace reforms that would restore public trust in political parties.
“We must rebuild our party system so that when Nigerians go to vote, they are choosing true representatives of their interests—not just candidates forced on them by party leaders,” he added.
Itodo concluded by appreciating the European Union for supporting the reforms and praised the lawmakers for showing commitment by attending the meeting despite being on recess. He promised that YIAGA Africa and its partners would continue to support efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
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