By: Ajiya Ayuba, Bauchi 

The former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, former vice President, Namadi Sambo, Bayelsa State Governor, Douyi Diri, former governor of Anambra State and the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Peter Obi attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi State.

The Democracy Dialogue held at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Conference Centre, Bauchi.

The former vice President, Namadi Sambo said that Democracy depends greatly on the strength and effectiveness of political parties which provide a platform through which citizens participate in politics, select leaders, and contribute to the formulation of public policies.

He said that for the political parties to effectively perform their role, they must embrace internal democracy, transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law. 

He further said that the selection of candidates should also be credible and inclusive, while party members should have meaningful opportunities to participate in decision-making.

According to him, said that “Our political parties must also move beyond political cleavages largely driven by personalities and focus more on ideas and policies. Added that by doing that, it will help to provide the necessary checks and balances within a democratic system.

The former vice president, Sambo also said that courts courts have the responsibility of interpreting the Constitution, protecting citizens’ rights, and resolving disputes, including electoral disputes and in accordance with the law.

“Judicial independence must be protected, Judges must be able to perform their duties without political interference, intimidation or undue pressure.

Judiciary must continue to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and accountability. 

Sambo noted that public confidence in the judiciary is essential to the credibility and sustainability of democracy, which people should also pay attention to the timely resolution of cases, particularly electoral matters. 

The former vice president, Namadi Sambo further said that delayed justice can undermine public confidence in democratic institutions.

On his part, the governor of Bayelsa State, Douyi Diri expressed his appreciation to the organiser of the programme for giving him opportunity to speak. Said there is total injustice in the way resources are distributed across the country.

“I come from a state with only eight local government areas, while some states have 40 local government areas and even more. Yet, resources from the federation are shared among all the local government areas, which is injustice.

According to him said that “Our resources are being exploited without the benefits being equitably distributed to the people. Now there is gold in Zamfara State and in other parts of the country. Yet, what we experience in those areas is insecurity. Much of the insecurity has also been linked to the discovery and exploitation of gold in that part of the country.

The Bayelsa State Governor, Douyi Diri further said that for democracy to truly thrive in Nigeria, there must be true federalism.

Also speaking during the occasion, the presidential candidate of the  Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians to reflect on the state of the nation’s democracy, warning that the erosion of judicial independence and electoral credibility poses a grave threat to the country’s future.

Drawing from his personal experience, Obi recalled spending three years in court challenging the 2003 Anambra governorship election and eventually securing justice.

“I never met the judges. Five judges I had never met delivered judgments in my favour. That cannot happen in Nigeria today,” he said. 

“I was a beneficiary of a process I had no influence over, and it was that judgment that made me governor.”

The former Anambra governor expressed concern over current trends in the electoral and judicial processes.

“Our lawmakers are manipulating the electoral process. Senior professors are defending it. Our young people are now being lured into criminal political activities. We have a crisis,” Obi said.

“It is time for every Nigerian to sit down and ask, where is our nation going? We need to reverse this trend. Because there are things we are allowing today that will come back to hurt our children,”

The presidential candidate of the  Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, lamented that professors and other educated Nigerians were now defending flawed elections, while young people were being drawn into what he described as criminal politics.