Former INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, has warned that Nigeria’s democracy remains fragile and vulnerable to authoritarian relapse, despite 26 years of uninterrupted civilian governance.
Speaking at The Platform Nigeria: June 12, 2025 Edition hosted by The Covenant Nation Global in Lagos, Jega presented a paper titled “Required Reforms for Stronger Democratic Institutions in Nigeria,” where he argued that the country’s democratic progress has stalled, leaving the nation teetering between misgovernance and regression.
“It is regrettable that after such a long time in transition to democratic rule, rather than democratic consolidation, authoritarian reversal is hanging over the country like the sword of Damocles,” Jega said.
He emphasized that electing civilian leaders is not the same as achieving democracy.
“Civil rule is a necessary condition, but it isn’t a sufficient condition for democratic development,” he noted, adding that Nigeria’s experience since 1999 has been more of a civil, rather than a democratic, rule.
Quoting political scientist Godwin Onu, Jega remarked that “supposedly democrats have become a threat to democracy,” pointing to a political elite that, in his view, lacks both the understanding and commitment to democratic norms.
“No nation can build and sustain democracy without democrats — civilians who understand, value, and respect democratic institutions,” he said.
Describing Nigeria’s current political climate as “democrazy,” he decried the obsession with winning elections at all costs, only for power to be used selfishly once attained.
To salvage Nigeria’s democratic aspirations, Jega recommended key reforms, including:
• Recruitment and training of genuine democrats,
• Encouraging decent citizens to enter politics, and
• Strengthening independent democratic institutions to curb power abuse and foster accountability.
He concluded that for democracy to take root, leadership must be driven by integrity, values, and a people-first philosophy, rather than opportunism and self-enrichment.
