Former Lagos State Governor and ex-minister Babatunde Fashola urges Nigeria’s opposition to accept election results even when elections are imperfect. Speaking at events in Lagos to mark Democracy Day, he says presidential and other elections involve extensive logistical operations across the federation, making absolute perfection difficult. He argues that the country’s election process requires thousands of polling units to carry out the same procedures simultaneously under varying conditions. Fashola also points to practices in other established democracies, saying they acknowledge shortcomings in elections while still accepting results and working to improve future processes. He warns that repeatedly faulting or rejecting outcomes can weaken democratic institutions and reduces the ability of opposition parties to take on their role in governance. According to the accounts, Fashola’s message also emphasizes that democracy is broader than elections, calling for continued focus on governance, accountability, and democratic engagement beyond electoral disputes.
Fashola tells Nigeria’s opposition to accept imperfect election outcomes
Former Lagos State Governor and ex-minister Babatunde Fashola urges Nigeria’s opposition to accept election results even when elections are imperfect. Speaking at events in Lagos to mark Democracy Day...
- Babatunde Fashola urges political actors and opposition to accept election outcomes even if they are imperfect.
- He says elections require large-scale logistics across Nigeria, making flawless execution difficult.
- He argues even other mature democracies accept electoral imperfections while working to improve systems.
- He cautions that rejecting results undermines democratic institutions and limits opposition participation in governance.
- His remarks are delivered during Democracy Day-related public discussions in Lagos.
Babatunde Fashola urges Nigerian opposition to accept imperfect election outcomes, stressing the need to strengthen democratic institutions over disputing Read More: https://punchng.com/elections-are-imperfect-fashola-urges-opposition-to-accept-outcomes/
10 hours agoFormer Lagos State Governor and ex-Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Babatunde Fashola, has urged political actors to accept election outcomes despite inevitable imperfections, stressing that democracy thrives when institutions are strengthened rather than undermined.Speaking at The Platform public policy forum in Lagos during Democracy Day celebrations, Fashola explained that the sheer scale of Nigeria’s electoral process makes flawless execution impossible.“Elections are an imperfect event because they require a large logistical operation across a federation,” he said, noting that thousands of polling units must conduct the same procedures simultaneously under varying conditions.He argued that even mature democracies acknowledge electoral shortcomings but continue to improve their systems while respecting results.“In other jurisdictions, they accept these imperfections and aspire to improve, but they also accept the results,” Fashola added.The former minister cautioned against the growing tendency of some politicians to reject outcomes, warning that such attitudes weaken democracy and prevent opposition parties from playing their vital role in governance.“An unwillingness to accept the outcome of an election blinds unsuccessful participants from seeking and taking up the role of opposition for the development of society,” he said.Fashola emphasized that democracy extends beyond elections, urging Nigerians to engage in deeper conversations about governance, accountability, and democratic values.His remarks formed part of wider discussions on Nigeria’s democratic journey, highlighting the need for stronger institutions, responsible political actors, and active citizen participation to sustain democratic growth.
10 hours agoAccording to him, elections, particularly presidential contests, involve extensive logistical operations that make absolute perfection difficult to achieve. The post ‘Stop faulting outcome, elections are imperfect’ – Fashola tells opposition appeared first on Vanguard News.
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