UK envoy tells CSOs they are key for 2027 credible elections

British Ambassador Dr. Richard Montgomery charged civil society organisations yesterday at the June 12 Democracy Day Dialogue in Abuja. He said they are critical to ensuring the 2027 elections are credible and accountable.

Montgomery told the Civil Society Situation Room that a lot of confidence-building measures are needed for citizens to trust election outcomes. He said, "We strongly believe that you people in the room, your organisations, the civil society monitoring rooms have key roles to play to hold the election process to account."

But Clement Nwankwo of PLAC lamented that recent attempts at institution capture have eroded our democracy and foisted tribalism and corruption. YZ Ya'u and others also shared their struggles. So if even the UK is backing CSOs now, why does it feel like our democracy is still hanging by a thread?