Joash Amupitan, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), will deliver the keynote address at the launch of a new book examining Nigeria’s democratic experience from 1999 to 2023.
The two-volume publication, titled ‘SHADOWS: Protest Essays on Africa’s Most Consequential Country (1999–2023)’, spans more than 900 pages and chronicles the country’s political and democratic evolution over 24 years.
Amupitan is expected to speak on ‘Strengthening Electoral Institutions: Pathways to Free, Fair, and Peaceful Elections in 2027’, with a focus on reforms needed to improve Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the next general election.
According to the organisers, the book presents an episodic account of Nigeria’s democratic journey, highlighting institutional developments, policy achievements and governance challenges that have shaped the country since the return to civilian rule in 1999.
The publication examines key issues including corruption, human rights abuses, policy failures, insecurity, leadership, executive-legislature relations, the cost of governance and public accountability.
It also explores themes such as political godfatherism, internal democracy within political parties, electoral malpractice, the role of religion in politics, elite hypocrisy, ethnic mobilisation and the influence of money in Nigeria’s political landscape.
The organisers said the book provides a historical account of the people, events and issues that have shaped Nigeria’s politics and power relations over the past two decades while reflecting on how those developments continue to influence the nation’s democratic trajectory.
