Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has emphasised the need for responsible leadership and collective accountability to ensure credible elections and strengthen democratic processes in Nigeria.

Speaking during a panel on “Innovation in Electoral Technology (2015–2025)”, Lawal said true democracy can only thrive when leaders take responsibility and work together to ensure transparency, fairness, and accountability in the electoral process.

“We believe that if we fight together and work together, it can be a way forward in terms of monitoring and implementation of democratic processes,” Lawal said. “As leaders, we must take responsibility because that is why we are always looking to link the people. What we need most is a credible election.”

The Zamfara governor stressed that accountability and integrity must remain central to leadership, noting that credible elections form the foundation for good governance and public trust.

“We cannot compromise our balance and legislative process. All people must be accountable for whatever they do as far as leadership is concerned,” he said.

Drawing comparisons with other democracies, Lawal urged Nigeria to emulate countries such as India, Brazil, and Australia, where technology and communication play a key role in strengthening peace and political stability.

“Look at places like India, with a population of over one billion people, or Brazil and Australia,” he said. “In these countries, communication and technology have been vital to peace and prosperity. They show that if we are going to have true representation, we must be responsible and accountable to the people.”

Lawal also highlighted the importance of planning, organisation, and security in leadership, saying that effective governance and credible elections depend on structured, deliberate action rather than improvisation.

“If we are going to be leaders, we need to be organised, we need to have a plan, and we need to be secure,” he said. “The future depends on what we plan for now. It’s very important because one of the things we must do to ensure true representation of the people is to have a clear plan and follow it.”

He reiterated that building trust in Nigeria’s democracy will require collective effort, strategic planning, and the political will to uphold integrity in governance.

“We have to have a plan, and we have to be committed to it,” Lawal concluded. “It is only through that commitment that we can guarantee credible elections and responsible leadership for the people.”