By Ovie Okpare
Delta Central Senator, Ede Dafinone, has called for a transition from political rhetoric to practical solutions in addressing Nigeria’s governance challenges, warning that electoral victories must translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
Dafinone made the call at the 3rd Advocate Lecture Series organised by Advocate Publication Ltd, publishers of Advocate Newspaper, where stakeholders examined issues surrounding governance and electoral accountability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on the theme, “From Ballot to Patronage: Why Electoral Victory Fails to Deliver Good Governance in Nigeria,” the senator stressed the importance of focusing on actionable reforms.
“I am always glad when conversations like this move beyond identifying problems to offering real solutions,” he said. “It is easy to talk about what is wrong, but far more important to focus on how we can fix it.”
On concerns about a potential one-party dominance, Dafinone noted that defections to ruling parties were not unusual in Nigeria’s political landscape.
“As we approach the 2027 elections, many Nigerians are expressing concerns about a possible one-party state. However, this is a common mid-term political trend we have seen since 1999,” he explained.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s electoral process, he acknowledged improvements in recent years but pointed out lingering challenges.
“In 2023, Nigerians were more aware and votes were more credible. However, we still face the problem of vote-buying, which reflects a deeper issue—many Nigerians feel their votes do not count,” he said.
The lawmaker also defended recent economic reforms by the Federal Government of Nigeria, including the removal of fuel subsidy, describing them as necessary despite the hardship they have caused.
“Previous leaders avoided these decisions to remain popular, but the current administration chose the hard path. I want to assure Nigerians that the benefits will come,” he added.
In his keynote address, Charles Akpoki delivered a critical assessment of Nigeria’s democratic system, arguing that citizens have lost ownership of governance.
“That is not democracy. Democracy is government of the people, by the people, and for the people. But in Nigeria today, the people do not own the government,” he said.
Akpoki attributed the disconnect to political ignorance and vote commodification, noting that many politicians lack concrete development plans.
“Nigerians sell their rights for small amounts of money, and politicians turn personal interests into public concerns,” he stated.
He also decried the high cost of politics, describing it as a major barrier to credible leadership.
“Politics in Nigeria is too expensive. Those who win often focus on recovering their expenses rather than serving the people, leading to a system dominated by godfathers,” he added.
Also speaking, Chairman of the event and three-time commissioner in Delta State, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, asked the National Assembly to go beyond budget approval, and insisting on the full implementation.
Muoboghare also noted that the Nigerian electoral system has witnessed tremendous improvement since the country returns to democracy in 1999, adding that the improvement has resulted in the eradication of fictitious votes hitherto recorded in the early years of electoral process.
He called for the strengthening of the process as the country heads towards another rounds of elections in 2027, stressing that there was need for Nigerians to have the liberty to freely choose their leaders through the polls.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Advocate Publication Ltd, Shedrack Onitsha, said the lecture theme was designed to address the gap between electoral success and governance outcomes.
“Over the years, we have discovered that election does not translate to good governance. Governments come with promises, but at the end, there is little to show,” he said.
The event, held at Wetland Hotel, featured panel discussions and goodwill messages from dignitaries, including Sheriff Oborevwori, who was represented, as participants called for reforms to strengthen institutions and ensure that democracy delivers real dividends to Nigerians.
