A coalition of eminent national leaders, civil society actors, labour champions, political reform advocates, and democracy campaigners has launched a new nationwide citizens’ movement aimed at delivering credible elections in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general polls. The launch followed the National Political Summit on Credible Elections and Political Stability, held on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja.
Convened by the National Consultative Front (NCFront) in collaboration with the Labour & Civil Society Front (LCSF), the high-powered summit—with the theme “Critical & Mandatory Constitutional Amendments for Credible Elections in 2027”—drew over 600 participants from government institutions, academia, the private sector, political parties, professional bodies, youth and women groups, and the Nigerian diaspora.
The gathering featured goodwill messages and keynote interventions from prominent Nigerians, including former President Goodluck Jonathan; former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf; former Governor Rotimi Amaechi; former presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi; Prof. Pat Utomi; Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; NLC President Joe Ajaero; Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim; Prince Adewole Adebayo; Prof. Okey Okechukwu; Senator Shehu Sani; Senator Ikechukwu Obiora; and other leading voices in governance, policy, and civil society.
A National Call for Electoral and Constitutional Reforms
The summit examined the urgent need for sweeping electoral and constitutional reforms to prevent the repetition of what participants described as “Nigeria’s long-standing cycle of electoral fraud, political instability, and governance crises.” Delegates also reflected on recent concerns raised by U.S. President Donald Trump about Nigeria’s escalating insecurity and stressed that credible elections remain the only path to national stability and sovereignty.
Key Observations
Stakeholders outlined several pressing national concerns, including: “The federal government’s inability to curb insecurity, which they warned has weakened Nigeria’s sovereignty and invited external scrutiny, the dire need to overhaul political party operations as breeding grounds for future leaders, the persistence of electoral malpractices—including inducement, manipulation, and rigging—which continue to delegitimize government authority and erode public trust.
At the end of deliberations, the summit adopted far-reaching resolutions aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s electoral landscape: Full financial autonomy for INEC, with direct funding from the Federation Account., open budgeting and closer collaboration with civil society to ensure transparency, Independent prosecutorial powers for INEC, removing reliance on the Police and the Attorney-General, legal adoption of early voting, diaspora voting, electronic voting, and real-time electronic transmission of results.
othets are: insulation of INEC leadership appointments from the Executive, to ensure non-partisan recruitment, phasing out judicial determination of elections, restoring primacy to polling units, constitutionally guaranteed special seats for women and vulnerable groups and transfer of burden of proof in election petitions from candidates to INEC.
The gathering also emphasized the need for Nigeria to engage the United States through diplomatic channels anchored on mutual respect and transparency.
The summit climaxed with the unveiling of the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE)—a new citizens’ mass mobilisation platform designed to champion electoral integrity ahead of 2027. The movement’s Interim Steering Council is chaired by Prof. Pat Utomi, with Labour leader Comrade Ayuba Wabba serving as Co-chair. Other leading members include Dr. Usman Bugaje, Amb. Nkoyo Toyo, Femi Falana (SAN), Senator Shehu Sani, Dr. Bilikisu Magoro, Ankio Briggs, Ene Obi, and a broad array of civil society, media, youth, and advocacy leaders.
The Steering Council, comprising 23 key figures, is tasked with mobilizing Nigerians nationwide to dismantle entrenched systems of election rigging and restore integrity to electoral processes.
In a closing statement, the summit asserted that Nigeria stands at a historic crossroads and that the 2027 elections offer a critical opportunity to reset the nation’s democratic foundations. Stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to sustained advocacy, civic mobilisation, and policy engagement in pursuit of credible, transparent, and globally respected elections.
The communiqué was signed on behalf of the newly inaugurated movement by Comrade James Ezema, Media Coordinator, Steering Council of the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE).
