Electoral corruption damaging public confidence, says Akume

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has voiced concerns that persistent allegations of corruption within Nigeria’s electoral process are steadily eroding citizens’ trust in the country’s democracy.

Speaking on Thursday at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja during a lecture to mark the 2026 Democracy Day celebration, Akume acknowledged notable democratic gains since 1999 but warned that lingering doubts over electoral integrity pose a serious threat to democratic consolidation.

“Electoral integrity remains a work in progress. While our electoral management body and the judiciary have demonstrated growing independence, persistent allegations of corruption in the electoral system and processes remain critical to its integrity,” he stated. “Democracy is not merely the act of voting; it is the guarantee that every vote counts equally.”

Reflecting on Nigeria’s 27-year democratic journey, the SGF described it as a period defined by resilience and progress, citing eight successful general elections and peaceful transfers of power across party and regional lines, including a historic transition from a ruling party to the opposition.

However, he urged stakeholders to confront challenges that weaken public faith in democracy, cautioning against allowing ethnic, religious or regional divisions to undermine the nation’s democratic foundations.

“Nigeria is worth all our sacrifices and our democracy is worth defending,” Akume said, adding that present and future generations carry the responsibility to build the nation envisioned by the country’s founding fathers.

He also highlighted economic expansion, infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, power sector reforms, and improved access to education and healthcare through programmes like the National Health Insurance Scheme, the Universal Basic Education initiative, and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.

The Democracy Day lecture, according to Akume, should serve as an opportunity for national reflection on the kind of democracy Nigerians hope to build over the next 27 years.