.’Pay greater attention to legislative polls, performance of legislators’
Paul Adunwoke
As the United States of America (USA), midterm elections hold Tuesday, November 3rd, stakeholders have advised Nigerians to learn lessons from the polls.
Although President Donald Trump is not on the ballot, Americans will elect members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and the outcome will determine how much political support his administration can enjoy in Congress for the remaining two years of his term.
Trump assumed office on January 20, 2025 for his second term.
Tomorrow’s elections are also being shaped by concerns about the cost of living, food prices, housing, and energy costs, among others.
But for Nigerians, there are important lessons to draw from this process. The comparison is not that the American system is perfect, or that our political circumstances are identical. Rather, it is that democracy works best when citizens have the power to reward performance, punish poor leadership and insist that their votes count.
One of the stakeholders and Lead Legal Researcher at VAREX, Barr. Oliver Azi, said concerning the US midterm elections, that Nigerians should look beyond the political contest and reflect on the lessons these polls offer about democracy and constitutional accountability.
”It is important to note that winning an election does not give a political party permanent ownership of government like it is apparently done here in Nigeria.
“US midterms allow voters to reassess their representatives because sovereignty resides with the people and the American population understands this.
“Similarly, Section 14(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria provides that sovereignty belongs to the people, from whom government derives its powers and authority.
“However, Nigerian politicians seem not to get this right. Political office is a mandate to serve, not a licence to govern without accountability.
“Secondly, welfare of the people remains the primary responsibility of the government by the provision of Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution”.
According to him, there is a rising toll in economic hardship and the cost of living which influences how Nigerians should evaluate their leaders.
“These are some of the issues that will influence voters in the United States and Nigerians need to look at this in the forthcoming election on January 16, 2027.
“The US midterms show the importance of legislative elections in determining the composition of Congress and its oversight capacity.
”To do this, Americans need to examine the prevalent issues before voting. Nigerians need to do the same as we head to the polls in 2027″.
He stressed that the most important lesson is that Nigerians must pay greater attention to legislative elections and the performance of their representatives.
The provision of Section 69 of the Constitution provides a procedure for recalling members of the National Assembly, subject to constitutional requirements.
“Representation is a responsibility, and citizens must demand accountability throughout their representatives’ tenure.
“Democracy requires continuous civic engagement, not occasional voting every four years.
“It is obligatory that citizens should monitor public expenditure, question government policies and demand transparency”.
He further explained that the provision of Section 14(2)(c) of the Constitution provides for the participation of the people in their government in accordance with the Constitution.
“Nigeria does not need to copy the American political system wholesale. Our constitutional structures and political realities differ.
“However, we can learn from the principles of legislative independence, electoral accountability and issue-based voting.
“Our Constitution already provides important foundations for popular sovereignty and responsible governance”.
He said the challenge is translating these provisions into effective institutions and tangible improvements in citizens’ lives.
Similarly, Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) House of Representatives Aspirant, Chief Dr. Obinna Ebirim, said the first lesson for Nigeria is that the voice and votes of the people must count.
“In the United States, voters have an opportunity to express their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the party controlling the presidency.
“The midterms provide a mechanism for citizens to influence the balance of power in Congress”.
He said in Nigeria, citizens also vote for a president, governors, senators and members of the House of Representatives.
“But we must build a political culture in which elected leaders understand that the voices and votes of the people do count.
“Citizens should be able to make their voices heard through credible elections, public debate, civic engagement and effective representation.
“Secondly, he noted that leaders must work to retain the confidence of the people.
“The American midterm campaign demonstrates how economic conditions can shape political fortunes.
“President Trump and the Republican candidates are facing public concern over the cost of living, including rising energy and household costs.
“President Trump is doing all he can to reverse and lessen this burden before the election including pursing some global actions that is driving energy costs”.
He said: “The lesson for Nigeria is clear: leaders must pay attention to how their policies affect ordinary households and be responsive to their plight.
“When Nigerians struggle with petrol prices, electricity tariffs, food inflation, transport costs, unemployment and the cost of healthcare, those realities must be able to shape political outcomes so leaders are forced to act to alleviate the suffering of the people”.
Ebirim stressed that government policies may involve difficult choices, and not every increase in prices is caused by one administration alone.
“However, leaders must explain their decisions honestly, respond to their consequences and make timely adjustments where necessary,” he stressed.
“A government should not completely ignore the cries of the masses or wait until an election approaches before showing concern about the hardship citizens experience every day.
“The third lesson I want to highlight is the value of an independent legislature and how it is essential for accountability”.
He explained that the U.S. midterm matter because the balance of power in Congress can change even while the president remains in office. If the president’s party loses control of one or both chambers, the opposition gains greater influence over legislation, budgets, congressional investigations and oversight of the executive.
“The president retains constitutional powers, but governing can become more difficult without sufficient congressional support.
He said Nigeria has its own legislature at the federal and state levels but their ability to hold the executive accountable is questionable.
“The National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly are not supposed to exist merely to endorse the decisions of presidents and governors.
“They have responsibilities to scrutinise budgets, question executive decisions, examine public expenditure, represent constituents and hold government institutions accountable.
“When legislators see themselves primarily as representatives of their constituents rather than loyalists of political godfathers who are in the executive, democracy becomes more meaningful.
“Nigerians should therefore pay attention not only to who becomes president or governor, but also to whether the people they elect into legislative offices are willing and able to perform their oversight duties”.
He said the Fourth lesson is that elections must be credible, and votes must count. “This is perhaps the most important lesson for Nigeria.
“The ability of American voters to change the balance of power depends on the electoral process translating their choices into legitimate results”.
He said Nigeria’s experience shows that this has not generally been the case and this is timely as the 2027 election approaches.
“We must continue to strengthen INEC’s independence and capacity, improve the transparency of result management, enforce electoral laws and ensure that credible complaints can be resolved through timely and impartial processes.
“When people believe that their votes will count, they have a stronger reason to participate and hold leaders accountable.
“When they believe that money, manipulation or political influence can override their choices, public confidence suffers”.
He said finally, Nigerians must make accountability a continuous democratic culture. The American midterm elections remind us that citizens do not have to wait for the end of a presidential term to influence the political direction of their country.
“Political parties must also recognise that electoral support is not permanent; it must be sustained through performance, responsiveness and public trust.
“In Nigeria, we should demand the same seriousness from our political parties, elected officials and electoral institutions.
“We should judge leaders by what they do for ordinary people, insist that legislators exercise genuine oversight and protect the integrity of elections at every level”, he added.
Managing Director Beacon Security and Innovations Limited, an Abuja-based security and intelligence solutions provider with operations in the Sahel, Dr. Kabir Adamu, said as the United States prepares for its midterm elections the global spotlight once again turns to the mechanics of democratic accountability, offering Nigerians a timely mirror and a masterclass in civic engagement.
At the heart of the American midterm, he said, is the concept of the continuous referendum.
It serves as a crucial mid-tenure check on the executive branch, reminding citizens that governance is an ongoing evaluation rather than a once-every-four-years event.
“For Nigeria, this underscores the vital lesson that accountability must be continuous.
“Nigerians must learn to actively engage in off-cycle and local government elections, recognizing that skipping these polls out of apathy is a direct surrender of civic power, as every ballot ultimately shapes the policies that govern daily life”.
Furthermore, he stressed the American midterm landscape increasingly hinges on tangible, everyday issues such as the economy, healthcare, and education, highlighting the urgent need for Nigeria to transition away from ethnic, religious, and regional patronage networks.
“Nigerian voters must be empowered to demand and prioritize issue-based manifestos, casting their ballots based on a candidate’s track record and policy proposals rather than identity politics”.
He said this shift is deeply tied to the role of the youths. Just as younger demographics in the US have proven capable of swaying midterm outcomes when properly mobilized, Nigerian youths must translate their massive demographic advantage and digital activism into concrete political power.
“Social media advocacy is valuable, but it must be systematically converted into voter registration, grassroots organizing, and a physical presence at the polls, because true political power is secured at the ballot box”.
He said finally, despite intense political polarization, the US electoral system relies on robust institutional frameworks, decentralized administration, and legal mechanisms to manage disputes and maintain public trust.
“For Nigeria, this reinforces the imperative to continuously strengthen the independence, funding, and technological capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the judiciary”.
Adamu said ultimately, the 2026 US midterms are not just an American affair but a global case study in democratic resilience.
“They serve as a powerful reminder that democracy is not a spectator sport; it requires an informed, active, and relentless citizenry.
“As Nigerians observe the US navigate its electoral process, the ultimate takeaway is to refine our own democratic practices, demand uncompromising accountability from our leaders, and take definitive, collective action to shape the future of our nation”.
For a better society
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