Electoral Integrity Key To Nigeria’s 2027 Democracy, Says Prof Kalu
A legal expert, Prof Awa Kalu has stressed the urgent need to rebuild public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that the country’s democratic progress depends on credible reforms and institutional transparency.
Speaking on Wednesday at the All Nigerian Editors Conference (ANEC) 2025 on the topic, “Electoral Integrity and Trust Deficit: What Nigerians Expect in 2027”, the scholar described the coming elections as a “litmus test” for Nigeria’s democracy.
He observed that many Nigerians had lost faith in the credibility of elections due to repeated cases of manipulation, violence, and inconsistent application of the law. “Before we can talk about what Nigerians expect in 2027, we must first ask what experiences shaped their expectations,” he said.
Tracing the nation’s electoral journey from 1959 to 2023, the speaker highlighted how the erosion of trust began as early as the First Republic, when political violence and electoral malpractice destroyed citizens’ confidence in the ballot.
According to him, the landmark Supreme Court decision in Awolowo v. Shagari (1979)—which introduced the doctrine of “substantial compliance”—continues to define how courts interpret election outcomes, often prioritizing stability over justice.
Prof. Kalu urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and lawmakers to focus on integrity, technology, and civic education rather than empty reforms. “No election can have integrity if it is not backed by trust,” he said.
He concluded by calling on political leaders and voters to view 2027 not merely as another contest for power, but as “an opportunity to rebuild the moral foundation of the republic.”
“The people’s trust,” he added, “is the oxygen of democracy. When it runs out, the system suffocates.”
