June 12: Democracy should be measured by positive impact on citizens - RULAAC

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Okechukwu Nwanguma; Director RULAAC

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By Madu Obi

As Nigeria marks another Democracy Day, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Center RULAAC, a nongovernmental organization, has raised the question of whether there is truly anything to celebrate, arguing that it should be measured by the positive impact on the citizens.

The executive director of RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma, acknowledged that while Nigeria has maintained civilian rule continuously since 1999 and celebrating the resilience of Nigerians who resisted military dictatorship, the sacrifices of the heroes of June 12, and the fact that democratic space still exists, it should not be an excuse for complacency.

According to him, while Nigerians celebrate the courage of citizens, journalists, civil society organizations, labour unions, and pro-democracy activists who fought for the restoration of democratic governance and continue to defend democratic freedoms, it cannot be measured merely by the conduct of elections or the existence of elected governments.

Nwanguma said: "Democracy must be judged by the extent to which it improves the lives of citizens, protects their rights, guarantees justice, and ensures accountability.

"Thirty-three years after the historic June 12 election and twenty-seven years after the return to civilian rule, many Nigerians continue to face poverty, insecurity, corruption, unemployment, and exclusion from governance. Human rights violations persist. Security agencies are too often implicated in abuses rather than protection.

Civic freedoms are increasingly threatened by intimidation, arbitrary arrests, misuse of cybercrime laws, and attempts to silence dissenting voices.

Public confidence in democratic institutions has been eroded by electoral controversies, weak accountability mechanisms, and the perception that public office is more about access to power than service to the people."

He argued that the enduring significance of June 12 lies not in annual ceremonies, but in its democratic ideals, noting that election should represent a Nigeria where the will of the people prevails, where votes count, where institutions are trusted, and where leaders derive legitimacy from genuine popular consent.

"The real challenge before Nigeria is whether we are moving closer to or farther away from those ideals. Democracy Day should, therefore, be more than a celebration; it should be a moment of honest reflection and national recommitment to the principles of accountability, rule of law, human rights, inclusion, and electoral integrity.

The heroes of June 12 did not struggle merely for civilian government; they struggled for a democratic Nigeria founded on justice, freedom, and accountable governance.

The best way to honour their sacrifice is not through speeches or symbolic recognition alone, but by building institutions that protect citizens, respect rights, ensure that every vote counts, and hold power accountable.

Until democracy consistently delivers justice, security, dignity, and opportunity for all Nigerians, June 12 will remain not only a day of celebration but also a reminder of promises yet to be fulfilled", he stated.