Former 2023 APC Benue South Senatorial Candidate, Comrade Daniel Onjeh, has marked Nigeria’s 2026 Democracy Day by calling for stronger democratic institutions, comprehensive electoral reforms, and greater internal democracy within political parties.

In a press statement issued on Friday, Onjeh congratulated Nigerians on the anniversary, acknowledging the country’s progress since its return to democratic rule in 1999, while urging continued reform to consolidate democratic gains.

He said that Nigeria’s Fourth Republic had achieved notable milestones, including over two decades of uninterrupted civilian rule, greater political awareness among citizens, and gradual improvements in the electoral process through technological innovations such as the Permanent Voter Card, Smart Card Readers, and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

However, the former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) cautioned that anti-democratic forces consistently develop new manipulation tactics whenever new electoral safeguards are introduced, making continuous reform essential.

Onjeh advocated for the full implementation of real-time electronic transmission of election results and, ultimately, secure electronic voting, describing both as the next logical steps in Nigeria’s electoral reform journey. He argued these measures would limit opportunities for manipulation between voting and result declaration, while boosting public confidence in elections.

“The ultimate goal should be to create a system where election outcomes are determined solely by the votes cast by citizens,” he said, adding that electoral integrity depends on citizens trusting that their votes are counted honestly.

Citing Botswana and Ghana as African models of electoral credibility, Onjeh urged Nigeria to aspire to continental leadership in democratic governance, stressing that achieving this would require political will, institutional independence, and technological advancement.

The former Chairman of the Governing Board of the Projects Development Institute (PRODA) identified weak internal party democracy as a critical obstacle to Nigeria’s democratic development, warning that many parties impose decisions on members rather than allowing transparent, participatory processes to determine outcomes.

He called on political leaders to prioritise service over personal gain and urged the strengthening of the judiciary, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and anti-corruption agencies.

Onjeh expressed optimism that sustained commitment to democratic ideals would deliver a stronger, fairer, and more accountable system for future generations.