The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Dr Leonardo Santos Simão, has met with civil society organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria to discuss preparations for peaceful, credible and inclusive elections in 2027.
The meeting, which involved organisations including the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP Nigeria) and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), focused on voter sensitisation, early warning mechanisms and electoral risk assessments ahead of the forthcoming elections.
Discussions also highlighted ongoing initiatives by civil society groups to strengthen electoral monitoring and promote peaceful participation, including the CDD Situation Room located at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.
Speaking during the engagement, Simão underscored the critical role of civil society organisations in promoting peace, democratic governance and stability, stressing that their leadership and contributions remain indispensable.
He noted that although development partners and other stakeholders could provide support to CSOs, they could not replace their leadership, local knowledge and commitment to strengthening democratic institutions.
The engagement forms part of Simão’s ongoing consultations with political leaders, government officials, democratic institutions and other stakeholders during his visit to Nigeria to support peaceful, credible and inclusive elections in 2027.
