Fashola Highlights Electoral Imperfections, Urges Opposition to Embrace Governance Roles

Former Lagos State Governor and ex-Minister of Works, Housing, and Power, Babatunde Fashola, has called on Nigerians to recognize that elections are inherently imperfect logistically, advising political actors to prioritize institutional growth over protracted electoral disputes.

Speaking on Friday at *The Platform*, a public policy symposium held in Lagos to commemorate Democracy Day, Fashola noted that the massive scale of conducting nationwide polls introduces unavoidable operational challenges. He argued that synchronized, simultaneous operations across thousands of polling units create complex variables that no electoral commission can fully eliminate.

Fashola observed that logistical shortcomings occur globally, noting that established democracies manage similar vulnerabilities by consistently reforming their processes without discrediting the final results. He warned that a persistent refusal to accept electoral outcomes risks destabilizing the political ecosystem and distracting unsuccessful candidates from their vital civic responsibilities.

According to the former minister, a functioning democracy requires active, constructive opposition parties to drive national development outside of election cycles. He urged citizens and political figures to expand public discourse beyond the polling booths, focusing instead on governance standards, accountability, and the long-term preservation of democratic principles.