Political leaders, pro-democracy activists, labour leaders and civil society stakeholders are expected in Lagos on Friday for events marking the 2026 Democracy Day anniversary, organisers have said.
The programme, being organised by the Movement for Credible Elections and the June 12 Pro Democracy Movement of Nigeria, will feature tributes to democracy activists and discussions on electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement signed by the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Anthony Kila, the organisers said the anniversary would also serve as the platform for the launch of a nationwide mobilisation campaign for credible elections.
“The focus of the 2026 National Democracy commemoration will be ‘Electoral Acts 2026, INEC and Sanctity of the 2027 Elections’ and ‘Poverty, Insecurity and Credible Elections in Nigeria’,” the statement said.
According to the organisers, former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, will chair the event, while Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and members of the family of the late Chief MKO Abiola are expected as special guests.
The first leg of the programme will be a national breakfast tribute session for heroes and heroines of Nigerian democracy at the MKO Abiola Democracy Centre in Ikeja.
“The first leg of the commemoration of the 2026 Democracy Day event on Friday is expected to witness special tributes from leading activists in the country at a National Breakfast Tributes Session for Heroes and Heroines of the Nigerian Democracy,” the statement said.
Among those expected to deliver tributes are Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Femi Falana (SAN), Prof Pat Utomi, Senator Shehu Sani, Adewole Adebayo, Omoyele Sowore, Joe Ajaero of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Festus Osifo of the Trade Union Congress.
Organisers said the breakfast session would be followed by a procession to the Lagos Airport Hotel, where a National Democracy Discourse would hold under the theme, “Reenacting the Credibility of the June 12 Elections in Nigeria in 2027.”
Some of the political figures invited to the event include Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rotimi Amaechi, Kayode Fayemi, Aminu Tambuwal, Datti Baba-Ahmed, Donald Duke, Dele Momodu and Solomon Dalung.
The statement said stakeholders attending the event would launch a nationwide campaign focused on electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Key agenda of the MCE to be tackled by stakeholders during the nationwide campaign are the unpopular Electoral Act of 2026, constant confusion foisted by judicial interference in the electoral process, immoral money politics and exclusive cost of seeking political office in Nigeria, INEC interference in the internal affairs of political parties and growing insecurity in the country that may affect the 2027 elections, among others,” the statement said.
The annual June 12 commemoration honours the struggle for democracy and the legacy of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s freest electoral contest.