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The 2023 general elections were meant to renew hope in Nigeria’s democracy. Instead, they deepened public doubt. What should have been a celebration of progress became a reminder of how fragile the system still is. With only 27% of registered voters turning out, the lowest since the return to civilian rule in 1999, the message was clear: more and more Nigerians no longer believe their votes make a difference.
For a country that has spent over two decades outside the grip of military rule, this moment should feel more stable. Yet Nigeria’s democracy continues to struggle with familiar problems; electoral malpractice, weak political parties, institutional weakness and a widening gap between government and the people.
It is true that reforms like the 2010 constitutional amendments and improvements in the electoral process have made some difference. But the deeper issues like executive dominance, poor governance and limited civic trust, remain unresolved. These challenges are not just about flawed systems; they reflect a deeper failure to build a democracy that works for everyone.
Still, there are signs of resilience. From growing civic awareness to increased judicial scrutiny and calls for political accountability, Nigerians continue to demand more. As the country marks this year’s Democracy Day, the task ahead is not only to protect democratic structures but to transform them, so that democracy becomes more than a promise and begins to deliver real results for all citizens.
Attributes of Democracy
1. Political Participation and Representation: Political participation in Nigeria has improved since 1999, with more credible elections. Yet voter turnout remains inconsistent; 29% in 2023 down from 69% in 2003. Representation of women (3.6% in the House of Representatives and 7.3% in the senate below the global average of 26.5%) and youth remain low. Challenges include voter apathy, electoral irregularities, and inadequate inclusion of diverse groups. Nigeria’s low voter turnout reflects public disillusionment and calls for electoral reforms, including a comprehensive voter register audit.
2. Rule of Law and Human Rights:
The rule of law in Nigeria remains fragile, often tested by prolonged pre-trial detentions, disobedience to court orders and security agencies operating with impunity. Cases such as the continued detention of activists despite court rulings spotlight the erosion of judicial authority. Human rights abuses, including unlawful arrests, police brutality and suppression of peaceful protests persist, especially in the aftermath of the EndSARS movement. Although the constitution guarantees fundamental rights, enforcement is inconsistent. Addressing these gaps requires strengthening judicial independence, holding security agencies accountable, and ensuring full compliance with legal norms to protect citizens’ rights.
3. Accountability and Transparency:
Nigeria’s fight against corruption relies heavily on institutions like the EFCC and ICPC. Both have recorded high-profile convictions but face criticism for selective prosecutions and political influence. Public sector reforms and platforms like the Open Treasury Portal aim to enhance transparency, though implementation gaps persist. Weak enforcement and limited whistleblower protections hinder broader accountability. Strengthening institutional autonomy and ensuring consistent enforcement are vital to fostering genuine transparency and reducing systemic corruption.
4. Civil Society and Media Freedom:
Civil society organizations in Nigeria play a vital role in promoting democracy, advocating for reforms, and holding government accountable. Groups like SERAP and BudgIT influence policy through research and civic engagement. Meanwhile, media freedom remains under pressure, with journalists facing harassment and censorship. Despite these challenges, social media has emerged as a powerful tool for public discourse, mobilising citizens and amplifying voices often excluded from traditional platforms.
The State of Democracy in Nigeria
While Nigeria’s democracy shows signs of progress, significant challenges remain. Incidences of election malpractices, electoral violence and intimidation remain a significant concern, deterring voter participation and compromising the integrity of elections. Corruption and lack of accountability by public leaders continues to plague Nigeria’s political landscape, eroding public trust in democratic institutions. Despite progress, women, youth, and persons with disability remain underrepresented in political leadership and decision-making processes. Deep-seated socio-economic inequalities hinder the full realization of democratic rights for many Nigerians. Journalists and civic activists routinely face harassment, arrest and intimidation often for merely demanding accountability. Robust democracy thrives with respect for human rights and civil liberties, rule of law, press freedom, independent judiciary and citizens’ participation.
Current Challenges
Despite efforts to institutionalize democracy, these foundational attributes continue to be undermined by persistent and overlapping challenges:
1. Security and Electoral Integrity:
Ensuring the security of electoral processes remains a critical challenge in maintaining free, fair, and credible elections. Incidents of violence, voter intimidation, and electoral fraud continue to undermine public trust and weaken democratic institutions. To safeguard electoral integrity, it is essential to train security personnel, enhance transparency, clarify legal frameworks, and promote collaboration among stakeholders. These measures can help strengthen governance and restore citizens’ confidence in the democratic process.
- Economic and Social Development:
Economic and social development are key to sustaining democratic governance. Evaluating economic policies is essential to ensure they promote social welfare and reinforce democratic values. Inclusive strategies, focused on reducing poverty, unemployment and disparities; promote social cohesion and civic engagement. By investing in education, healthcare, fair labour markets and social safety nets governments can foster broad-based growth, strengthen public trust, and build a more equitable and stable democratic society.
3. Ethnic and Religious Diversity:
Ethnic and religious diversity can undermine democracy when poorly managed. Exclusion or perceived unfair treatment of certain groups erodes trust in democratic institutions and fosters division. For democracy to thrive, it requires equitable representation and inclusion of all demographics in governance. Without this, the legitimacy of the democratic process may be questioned.
For instance, when one ethnic or religious group consistently dominates leadership positions, other groups may feel marginalised, leading to disillusionment with democratic principles and processes. Thus, ensuring inclusive governance practices is crucial for maintaining trust, social cohesion, and the effectiveness of democracy in Nigeria
Institutional Reforms to Check Executive Overreach
To restore INEC’s credibility, Nigeria must move toward a transparent and inclusive appointment model. Drawing from global examples, key pillars include:
Ghana is widely respected for peaceful power transitions, an independent electoral body, and vibrant civil society. Its 2016 election marked a mature democracy when President Mahama conceded defeat. Meanwhile, South Africa upholds democratic values through strong institutions, especially its judiciary. The 2021 imprisonment of former President Zuma for contempt reinforced the rule of law and judicial independence. These examples show that democracy thrives where institutions are empowered, insulated from political capture and accountable to the people. Nigeria must pursue similar institutional reforms to check executive overreach and rebuild public trust in its democratic process. These key points are recommended:
• Strengthen Legislative Oversight: Empower parliamentary committees to scrutinize executive actions more effectively, ensuring accountability.
• Judicial Independence Safeguards: Enhance judicial autonomy and protect judges from political interference, ensuring fair adjudication of disputes.
• Public Access to Information: Enact robust Freedom of Information laws to promote transparency and enable citizens to hold leaders accountable.
• Civil Society Engagement: Foster partnerships with civil society organizations to monitor governance and advocate for citizen interests.
• Constitutional Reforms: Review and amend constitutional provisions to clarify and limit executive powers, ensuring a balanced separation of powers.
Reforming INEC’s Appointment Process: Enhancing Democratic Integrity
In Nigeria’s democratic landscape, the appointment process of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stands pivotal in ensuring fair elections and upholding democratic principles. Currently, the process lacks robust transparency and accountability measures, which are essential for fostering public trust and credibility.
To strengthen Nigeria’s electoral integrity and democratic processes, several critical reforms should be pursued:
• Enhanced Transparency: Establish clear, publicly available guidelines outlining how appointments are made to INEC. This includes publishing selection criteria, timelines and decision-making processes, to build public trust, reduce political interference, and ensure accountability in the appointment process.
• Merit-Based Selection: Appointments should be based on who is most qualified and capable, not on who they know politically. A transparent, merit-based system builds public trust and ensures the right people lead our democratic institutions.
• Stakeholder Consultation: The appointment process should not happen behind closed doors. Civil society groups, professional associations and citizens must be given a seat at the table. Their input will help ensure that appointments are fair, transparent and reflect the public interest, not just the preferences of those in power.
• Accountability Mechanisms: INEC officials should not operate without checks. There must be strong systems to monitor their work, measure their performance and hold them responsible for failures or misconduct. Clear consequences like suspension or removal, are needed to show that public office comes with real responsibility and no one is above the rules.
Conclusion
Nigeria is not yet a failed democracy, but we are dangerously close to losing its meaning. Too often, we go through the motions of elections without real choice, and we pass laws without real legitimacy. But democracy is not a performance, it must be lived, protected and renewed by each generation.
This is the task before us: not just to defend democracy, but to rebuild it. To shift from merely voting to truly mattering. That kind of change won’t come from amending the constitution alone. It starts with us, with a change in mindset, a culture rooted in accountability, service, and shared purpose.
On this Democracy Day, we must ask not only what our democracy has done for us, but what we are willing to do for it. Let us commit to building a Nigeria where democracy is not just a word we recite every four years, but a daily practice that delivers dignity, fairness, and a future we can all believe in.
Authors:
Chinaza Igwe
Kosisochukwu Kingsley
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