The concerned Nigerians also linked Nigeria’s security challenges to the worsening instability in the Sahel region, citing terrorism, arms trafficking, unconstitutional changes of government and porous borders in countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
“The crisis in Nigeria cannot be separated from the broader instability engulfing the Sahel region,” they said.
To address the situation, the group urged the federal government to appoint a Special Envoy for the Sahel to rebuild trust between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of the Sahel States (AES).
They also called on civil society organisations, professional bodies, religious leaders and the private sector to defend democratic values and demand accountability.
The signatories further expressed concern over the electoral process, saying there were “clear and consistent indications of the lack of neutrality and competence of INEC.”
They urged civic groups, the Nigerian Bar Association and other stakeholders to engage the electoral body to ensure that the 2027 general elections are “free, fair and credible.”
The group also called on the judiciary and the National Judicial Council to strengthen accountability mechanisms and restore public confidence in the justice system.
