Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, has issued a stark warning to the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, and the Department of State Services, DSS, against any attempts to suppress peaceful rallies planned for Democracy Day.
The organization’s statement, released in the early hours of Wednesday, follows threats from the DSS and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to prevent demonstrations by various civil society organizations, labor unions, and concerned citizens.
CAPPA emphasized the state’s responsibility to uphold citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and free expression, urging authorities to protect rather than stifle democratic participation. The organization called for a renewed commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy as a means to achieve sustainable national development.
Despite 25 years of uninterrupted democratic governance, CAPPA criticized the persistent disregard for democratic principles, which they argue limits citizens’ engagement in the political process and hinders meaningful progress.
“The diversity of opinions and active participation of citizens in political processes enrich democracy and promote nation-building,” CAPPA stated. They decried the increasing instances of press suppression, arbitrary arrests, and detention of journalists and vocal critics, noting these actions undermine the public’s ability to engage equally in governance.
CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, remarked on the significance of Democracy Day, celebrating the resilience and bravery of Nigerians in the face of ongoing challenges. He urged the public to defend the nation’s integrity against threats to its democratic values.
The organization also criticized the current state of Nigeria’s democracy, highlighting the weak pillars of governance, dwindling popular participation, and the unfulfilled promise of free and fair elections. This disillusionment, they argue, has led to widespread apathy among the populace.
“Furthermore, the Nigerian state continues to operate with little or no regard for the principles of separation of powers, thereby compromising the ability of different arms of government to self-regulate or even exert the necessary measure of checks and balances that help to prevent the abuse of power and protect the rights and liberties of the people,” the statement read. CAPPA pointed to a weak legislature, a compromised judiciary, and an impunity-driven executive as key issues.
In conclusion, CAPPA urged political leaders to reject actions that criminalize open government prospects. They called for full adoption of transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law across all levels of government and its institutions, to ensure a democratic environment that benefits all Nigerian citizens.
