The Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Sen. Ede Dafinone, says Nigeria’s democracy has continued to mature significantly over the past 27 years of uninterrupted democratic governance.
Dafinone stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Asaba while reflecting on the impact of democracy since the country’s return to civilian rule.
According to him, the nation’s democratic journey has witnessed remarkable progress, particularly in the conduct of elections and the protection of voters’ rights.
He noted that the electoral process had improved greatly when compared to the early years of democratic governance in the country.
The senator recalled that elections conducted in 1999 and 2003 were characterised by widespread irregularities that undermined public confidence in the process.
“I recall the election of 1999, 2003 where there was literally no voting,” he said.
Dafinone, however, said the situation had changed considerably over the years as electoral reforms strengthened the credibility of elections.
He explained that votes were now being counted more accurately, allowing citizens to have greater confidence that their choices would be reflected in election outcomes.
“From that period till now the votes are actually being counted and people voices have been heard,” he said.
The lawmaker described the development as a major milestone in Nigeria’s democratic evolution and a sign of growing institutional maturity.
He expressed optimism that further improvements would be made to deepen democracy and enhance public trust in the electoral process.
“This is a big step and we will still make further steps forward to make sure that the right of candidates also onboarded and issues of vote buying is also reduced,” he said.
Dafinone who was elected into the Senate in 2023 commended his constituents for their continued support and trust in his leadership.
He thanked the people of Delta Central for giving him the opportunity to serve them in the Senate and pledged to remain committed to advancing their interests.
NAN recalls that the senator in flagged off a three-week rigging and scaffolding capacity-building programme for youths in his senatorial district, in partnership with NCDMB.
The training was designed to equip youths with practical technical skills for oil and gas and construction employment, with emphasis on employability, safety competence, and self-reliance.
It also aimed to reduce youth dependency by providing job-ready skills for long-term economic opportunities and self-sufficiency.
Dafinone said the initiative aligned with his broader development agenda prioritising practical skills acquisition as a pathway to sustainable empowerment.
It also recalls that no fewer than 300 farmers and aspiring agripreneurs in Delta Central benefited from a two-day Agriculture and Food Security Training and Empowerment Programme.
The initiative provided hands-on training in crop cultivation and fish farming, equipping participants with skills and tools to launch agribusiness ventures.
Each participant received tailored starter packs based on their training module.
Trainees in pest-resistant vegetable production, tomatoes, pepper, maize, and groundnuts, received high-yield seedlings, fertilizers, and pest control chemicals.
Fish farming participants received fish feeds, fingerlings, and pond treatment kits.
NAN
