President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, has called on citizens, institutions and leaders across the country to remain committed to justice, accountability, transparency and the rule of law in order to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
Osigwe made the call while speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Abuja Branch Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association Abuja Branch, where he stressed the urgent need to safeguard the nation’s democratic process.
According to him, democracy does not suddenly collapse in a single day, but gradually weakens when citizens stop asking questions, institutions lose public trust and the rule of law is treated as optional rather than sacred.
He expressed concern that decades after independence, Nigeria was still grappling with fundamental questions regarding the integrity and strength of its democratic system.
“A system that should inspire confidence among citizens must not continually leave room for doubt, uncertainty and distrust,” he stated.
The NBA president noted that although the Nigerian Constitution clearly stipulates that political power can only be attained through democratic means, recurring challenges associated with elections and governance processes continue to threaten public confidence in democracy.
Osigwe maintained that democracy could not survive on constitutional provisions alone, stressing that the collective will of citizens to defend democratic values remained critical to sustaining the system.
Speaking on the theme of the 2026 Law Week, he described it as timely and thought-provoking, particularly as discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections begin to dominate national discourse.
He added that ideas and deliberations from such forums had the capacity to influence institutions, inspire reforms and strengthen public confidence in the democratic process.
Osigwe further warned against indifference towards democratic responsibilities, insisting that Nigeria’s democracy would only thrive when all stakeholders remained committed to justice, accountability, transparency and the rule of law.
He commended the Abuja Branch of the NBA for choosing a significant theme for the Law Week and wished the branch a successful and impactful programme.
Source: The Nation News