Vice President Kashim Shettima admitted that elections in West African countries, including Nigeria, are flawed but emphasized the importance of leaders meeting the people’s aspirations. Speaking at the launch of the West Africa Democracy Fund, Shettima urged African leaders to avoid corruption and nepotism, which erode confidence in democracy. Highlighting challenges faced by democracy in the region, he mentioned Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu’s experience during a military takeover in Niger after his election as ECOWAS chairman.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, also expressed concerns about African voters’ ignorance of holding leaders accountable. Emphasizing the need for voter education, he suggested building strong democratic institutions to ensure democracy’s stability.
At a Yar’Adua Foundation summit, leaders discussed the resurgence of military coups and democratic setbacks in West Africa. Despite citizens’ preference for democracy, disillusionment with its practice has led to passive acceptance and support for military interventions. The summit aimed to address these challenges and strengthen democratic governance in Africa.