Former 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.
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