Vice President Kashim Shettima, former Military Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, are set to lead discussions at a major conference in Abuja on Monday.
The event will focus on strengthening democracy ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Other prominent figures expected to speak at the two-day conference include Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Themed “Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy: Pathway to Good Governance and Political Integrity,” the conference will feature a keynote address by Mahamudu Bawumia, the former Vice President of Ghana. Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim will also address attendees on the challenges, opportunities, and the outlook for the 2027 elections.
During a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, the founding Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, explained that the conference aims to spark critical discussions about the pressing challenges undermining Nigeria’s democracy.
He highlighted the need for solutions to electoral malpractices, ineffective political parties, weak governance structures, pervasive corruption, and declining public trust.
“Our goal is to address these issues, with the vision of creating political parties that genuinely represent the voice and needs of Nigerians, offering viable leadership and governance options for the future,” Igbuzor stated.
