A civil society organisation committed to environmental justice and democratic reform, Connected Advocacy, has unveiled a proposal to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process against the growing threat of climate change.
This is contained in statement signed by the Executive Secretary of Connected Advocacy, Mr. Israel Orekha, made available on Friday, June 27, 2025, in Lagos.
The proposal is titled: “Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy through Electoral Climate Reform.”
Orekha said the proposal introduces the National Electoral Climate Preparedness Protocol, a first-of its kind, designed to ensure elections remain credible, accessible, and resilient despite climate-related disruptions such as flooding, extreme weather, and displacement.
“Recent elections have shown how climate risks can undermine logistics, suppress voter turnout, and erode public trust.
“We can no longer treat environmental hazards as separate from democratic integrity. This reform is essential to protect the voices of millions,” Orekha said.
He listed key interventions in the protocol to include embedding climate risk assessments in electoral planning and enabling emergency voting options in disaster-affected communities.
Others are securing voter registers with off-site digital backups, building inter-agency coordination between INEC, NEMA, NiMET and National Council on Climate Change/Federal Ministry of Environment and security agencies.
Orekha said the proposal outlined a phased implementation timeline, from stakeholder consultations and piloting in high-risk states to nationwide rollout and institutionalisation over the next three years.
He called on INEC, the National Assembly, development partners, and civil societies to support this innovative approach and position Nigeria as Africa’s leader in climate-adaptive electoral systems.
By Fabian Ekeruche