Residents of Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency in Ogun State have been urged to deepen democratic participation by going beyond voting to actively hold elected officials accountable for their performance in office.

The call was made by Antonia Onda, Senior Program Officer at Yiaga Africa, during a sensitization and deliberative democracy meeting held on Friday in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Onda emphasized that true democracy thrives when citizens consistently engage with governance and express their concerns, not just during election periods.

“Citizens’ participation is at the center of democracy and it is important that citizens engage,” she said.

“We are providing this platform for residents to deliberate on issues that matter to them and present their concerns to their federal representative for possible implementation.”

She explained that the People’s Assembly initiative was designed to enable citizens in Ifo/Ewekoro Constituency to deliberate collectively and demand accountability and transparency from their representatives.

“Most times, citizens don’t participate beyond voting. Democracy goes beyond elections; it includes holding leaders accountable and demanding the execution of community-impact projects,” Onda added.

In his remarks, the lawmaker representing Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency, Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka, represented by Biodun Adeleye, commended Yiaga Africa for the initiative, noting that it aligns with efforts to strengthen citizens’ understanding of their rights and the duties of elected representatives.

He added that the constituency was chosen for the program due to the effectiveness of its representation in the National Assembly, assuring that discussions from the event would contribute to improving service delivery.

Also speaking, Sheikh Lawal Adebayo, Chairman of the League of Imams and Alfas, Ewekoro Local Government, lamented that many citizens no longer feel the positive impact of democracy or have access to their representatives.

“We hope that the suggestions from this meeting will bring positive change. So far, citizens are experiencing more negative than positive impacts,” he said.

On his part, Wasiu Olamilekan, a participant and person living with disability, described the People’s Assembly as a rare opportunity for inclusion and advocacy.

“It’s a great privilege for Persons with Disabilities in Ogun State because our voices can finally be heard. We’ve written many letters to the state government but have often been ignored. This initiative gives us hope,” he said.