Professor Pat Utomi, founder of the Lagos Business School, warned that Nigeria is confronting a serious democratic challenge at the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference of the Nigeria Guild of Editors in Enugu. He said the country’s future stability depends on public confidence in the electoral process.
Utomi explained that elections derive much of their legitimacy from citizens’ trust in the way leaders are chosen. “Sustained distrust in the electoral system could weaken democratic governance,” he said, noting that a decline in confidence threatens the very foundations of the nation’s democracy.
He voiced concern over a growing tolerance of alleged irregularities in elections, arguing that continued acceptance of such practices could gradually make abnormal electoral conduct appear normal. Utomi questioned the implications of a situation where people lose confidence in elections yet continue to accept governments produced through processes they consider defective.
Drawing on examples from Sudan and Somalia, Utomi warned that a sustained loss of confidence in democratic institutions could eventually create instability and erode the foundations of democracy.
He also stressed the importance of clear and precise laws, insisting that legislation must be unambiguous so that citizens and institutions can understand and apply it consistently.
Calling on editors to recognise the media’s critical role, Utomi urged journalists to use their platform to scrutinise institutions, inform citizens and promote accountability. He said the media has an important responsibility to help the public understand how democratic institutions work and to demand accountability from those in public office.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
