As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, a Pan-African policy group and a media platform are organizing a virtual international conference to examine the role of citizens and institutions in political accountability. The event shifts focus from political leaders to the people who elect and sustain them.
Conference Details
The conference, organized by the Pan-African Strategic and Policy Research Group and Empowered Newswire, will be held virtually on Friday, May 29, under the theme "The Demand Side of Accountability." It aims to explore "followership studies," a field that analyzes how voters, communities, and institutions influence governance and leadership outcomes.
This event comes as political activities for the 2027 elections intensify, amid ongoing concerns about insecurity and the rising cost of living in Nigeria. The organizers stated that leadership outcomes are shaped not only by elected officials but also by citizens who support, elect, or tolerate them.
"This is not another leadership conference; it is a direct interrogation of the voters, communities, and institutions whose decisions at the ballot box and beyond produce the same results every cycle," the organizers said in a statement released on May 28.
The conference is dedicated to the memory of the late Aminu Kano, described as a "champion of followership."
Conference Themes and Speakers
Discussions will cover historical and cultural dimensions of followership, ethics and power relations, and the role of followers in political, religious, traditional, and business institutions. Other sessions will examine the impact of technology, diversity, and crisis situations on civic participation and accountability.
Speakers include Aminu Gusau, Nimi Wariboko, Prince Charles Dickson, Abdussamad Dasuki, and Bode Olugbore. The event runs from 10 am to 5 pm via Zoom, and participation is open to the public.
INEC Announces Personnel for 2027 Election
In a related development, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that over 1.4 million ad hoc personnel, mostly National Youth Service Corps members, will be deployed for the 2027 general election. INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan made this known during a visit to the NYSC headquarters in Abuja, where he was received by NYSC Director-General Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu.
