Democracy is a powerful instrument in the hands of ordinary citizens. The recently concluded 2026 United States midterm elections have once again demonstrated that political power ultimately belongs to the people.
Nigeria’s democratic system shares several institutional features with that of the United States. We are capable of learning from other democracies, and it is time we emulated those practices that strengthen accountability, responsible leadership and the power of the electorate.
The 2026 US midterm elections sent a strong message to President Donald Trump and his Republican Party. American voters, dissatisfied with the administration’s performance and political direction, turned out in large numbers to support the Democrats, enabling them to take control of both chambers of Congress.
The lesson here is simple: democracy is not a do-or-die affair.
If you are elected into public office and fail to deliver on your campaign promises, you should be prepared to face the electorate and be voted out. No political party, no matter how powerful, should consider itself indispensable.
What makes the American election particularly instructive is that political spending and influence do not guarantee victory. Millions of dollars were spent by candidates and political interests, yet many heavily financed candidates still lost. Ultimately, it was the voters who had the final say.
There is a popular saying attributed to Abraham Lincoln that God must love ordinary people because He made so many of them. That is the beauty of democracy: the ordinary citizen, regardless of wealth, status or social standing, has a vote equal to that of the wealthiest politician.
As Nigerians approach the 2027 general elections, this should be our moment of reflection.
It is time to reject money politics. It is time to stop selling our future for a few thousand naira. It is time to look beyond political godfathers, ethnic sentiments, religious divisions and party loyalty.
We must vote for competence, integrity, accountability and the ability to deliver.
Politicians must understand that public office is a privilege and a responsibility, not a personal inheritance. Citizens must also understand that their votes are their greatest democratic weapon.
In 2027, let Nigerians speak through the ballot box. Let us vote with our conscience, not our stomachs.
A government that serves the people deserves another opportunity. A government that fails the people should be prepared to make way.
The ultimate owners of democracy are not the politicians. They are the people.
Onabis is a Nigerian industrialist based in Italy
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