By Nnasom David

As preparations intensify for the 2027 General Elections, iLEAD AFRICA has launched a citizen-driven digital accountability platform known as iMonitor, aimed at strengthening transparency, public service monitoring, and civic participation in governance.

The platform was unveiled in Abuja at a stakeholders’ engagement that brought together representatives of government institutions, civil society organisations, development partners, media executives, and governance experts.

Speaking at the event, Chief Executive of iLEAD AFRICA, Yusuff Abiodun Liadi, said iMonitor was designed as a civic infrastructure to bridge the gap between citizens and governance rather than just a digital application.

He said the platform provides multiple engagement channels, including iReport for documenting community issues, iMonitor for tracking public projects and government spending, and an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot to guide users and provide civic information.

“Democracy must not be reduced to periodic elections alone. True democratic governance requires sustained accountability between electoral cycles,” Liadi said.

He also acknowledged the Nigeria Youth Future Fund for its support in developing the platform.

Representatives of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies and the National Bureau of Statistics expressed support for digital civic tools, noting their potential to improve legislative oversight and enhance access to citizen-generated data for policy decisions.

Director of the Nigeria Youth Future Fund, Dr. Onyeche Elizabeth Agbiti Douglas, who declared the event open, described iMonitor as a timely innovation for strengthening transparency and public accountability.

She said the effectiveness of such platforms depends on credible and timely citizen-generated data, urging development partners and civil society organisations to support its nationwide expansion.

Delivering a keynote address, National Adviser to Civil Society of Open Government Partnership (OGP) Nigeria, Mr. Uchinna Arisukwu, said government responsibility remains the security and welfare of citizens, stressing that active citizen engagement strengthens democratic institutions.

He noted that accountability must span the entire budget cycle, from planning to implementation and oversight, and called for collaboration between iMonitor and other civic technology platforms to enhance transparency and data sharing.

A live demonstration of the platform was conducted during the event, where a real-time project complaint was submitted to showcase its reporting functionality.

A panel discussion focused on the role of technology in civic engagement ahead of the 2027 elections, with experts raising concerns around misinformation, data privacy, and digital exclusion while highlighting opportunities for youth mobilisation and democratic participation.

Participants recommended wider accessibility, including local language integration, disability inclusion, and stronger voter education campaigns ahead of the elections.

The launch of iMonitor is expected to expand citizen engagement in governance by enabling continuous public oversight beyond election periods.