Akume Declares Nigeria's Democracy Worth Defending

On June 11, 2026, George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, delivered a public lecture in Abuja commemorating Democracy Day. He declared that Nigeria's democracy is worth defending despite the challenges facing the electoral system.

Akume urged Nigerians to play an active role in strengthening democratic institutions to safeguard the country's hard-earned civil rule, which has been in place since the return to civilian governance in 1999. He reflected on the past 27 years, noting significant progress, including the successful conduct of eight consecutive general elections and peaceful power transfers among political parties.

However, he identified electoral integrity as a major concern, stressing that allegations of corruption within the electoral system continue to undermine public confidence. Akume cautioned against allowing ethnic and religious divisions to weaken the foundations of democracy and called for a sincere assessment of Nigeria's democratic experience to meet the aspirations of the people.

He concluded by affirming that democracy is worth the sacrifices made for it.