By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Ganiyu Olamiji Oyebanjo, a prominent community advocate and former Supervisor for Kosofe Local Government, has called for a major shift in how citizens engage with elected officials, stressing that democracy should not end at the ballot box.
Oyebanjo, popularly known as GOCO, made the remarks while reacting to a recent article by KosofePost Publisher, Bilesanmi Abayomi, titled “Democracy Suffers When Accountability Becomes Seasonal.”
In his response, the former council official argued that the relationship between government and citizens is increasingly being treated like a temporary arrangement instead of a long-term democratic responsibility.
According to him, awareness alone is no longer sufficient to sustain accountability in governance, insisting that citizens must evolve from being occasional voters into active monitors of public office holders throughout their tenure.
“To move this from a concept to a reality, I believe we need to collaborate on a framework for institutionalized consistency,” Oyebanjo stated.
As part of his recommendations, he proposed the introduction of a community-driven mid-term scorecard system that would assess elected representatives based on promises and targets outlined within their first 100 days in office rather than campaign rhetoric.
He also advocated for the establishment of independent Constituent Oversight Committees empowered to monitor infrastructure projects, public spending, and administrative performance in real time.
According to Oyebanjo, such structures would move accountability beyond ceremonial town hall meetings and create a more effective system for citizen participation in governance.
The former supervisor, who has built a reputation around advocacy for transparency and public accountability, maintained that democratic culture weakens when scrutiny disappears after elections.
He stressed that institutionalising oversight mechanisms would help promote performance-based governance and discourage political complacency.
“Democracy requires more than just participation at the polls; it requires a permanent framework for accountability that survives long after the elections are over,” he added.
Observers note that the intervention adds to ongoing conversations within Kosofe on civic engagement, transparency, and the responsibilities of both leaders and citizens in sustaining democratic governance.