Democracy Day: COPAC calls for greater citizen participation in democratic process

By Nefishetu Yakubu

The Convener of the Coalition Political Action Committee (COPAC), Engr. Aminu Datti-Ahmad, has urged Nigerians to embrace active participation in democratic processes to strengthen governance and national development.

Datti-Ahmad, who made the call at the 2026 COPAC Democracy Day event on Friday in Abuja, said meaningful democratic progress begins when citizens and leaders remain committed to engagement in spite of the prevailing national challenges.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that COPAC is a civic and political engagement platform affiliated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC)

He commended participants for attending the gathering, noting that their presence demonstrated a collective determination to contribute to Nigeria’s democratic growth and future stability.

“Every meaningful democratic journey begins with citizens and leaders who are willing to show up. Your presence here today is a refusal to stand on the sidelines,” he said.

According to him, Nigerians are increasingly demanding answers on insecurity, economic hardship, unemployment, rising living costs, and the quality of political leadership across the country.

He said COPAC was established to strengthen the ADC’s electoral success, institutional capacity, and democratic effectiveness through citizen mobilisation, political education, advocacy, and leadership development.

According to him, while political parties contest elections and produce candidates, political action committees help mobilise citizens and build movements capable of sustaining democratic change.

He explained that COPAC would serve as a platform for empowering young people, organising party members, encouraging policy debates, and promoting long-term democratic planning.

Datti-Ahmad said Democracy Day offered an appropriate occasion to launch COPAC because democracy required constant participation, vigilance, organisation, and sacrifice from citizens.

“Democracy is not an event. Democracy is work. It requires participation, organisation, vigilance, sacrifice, and citizens who refuse to surrender their future,” he added.

“The real test of democracy is whether ordinary citizens can see a connection between democratic governance and the quality of their lives,” he stated.

Datti-Ahmad expressed concern over declining public confidence in politics, particularly among young Nigerians who increasingly view political participation as ineffective and disconnected from change.

He maintained that Nigeria was not suffering from a shortage of talent, ideas, or capable young people, but from declining political participation and democratic confidence.

Also speaking, Atiku Abubakar, the ADC presidential candidate, congratulated Nigerians for sustaining the country’s longest uninterrupted democratic dispensation since independence.

Represented by a former lawmaker Nnenna Ukeje, Abubakar described June 12 as a symbol of freedom, prosperity, and the people’s right to choose leaders committed to serving the common good.

“For 27 years, through thick and thin, Nigerians have refused to abandon the promise of June 12, the promise of freedom and prosperity,” he said.

In his goodwill message, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of ADC, expressed optimism about the future of Nigerian politics, citing the intellectual contributions and commitment demonstrated by young party members(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

NY/KOO
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa