The 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, has stated that Nigeria is no longer a democratic nation, lamenting the erosion of democratic principles under the current administration.
Obi declared this at the New Nigeria Youth Summit 2025, organised by the Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM) in Abuja.
As the keynote speaker at the summit, Obi said, “Nigeria today is not democratic, let nobody deceive you. Democracy has a simple definition, government of the people, by the people, and for the people. None of these components exists in Nigeria today.
“As we go toward the next election, there is a need for proper scrutiny and verification of those we are trying to vote for.
“That is where our problem is, when people come and talk to us, when people come and share money to us, when people come and do wrong things, none of us are asking who this person is. What is he going to offer? What is his background?” he said.
Obi urged Nigerian youths to mobilise, warning that disorganisation perpetuates the nation’s crises.
“It is time to organise. If you are not organised, you will continue to suffer the problems we face today,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor emphasised the need for a competence-based leadership in future elections, criticising past voting patterns driven by tribe and religion, rather than merit.
“In the last election, we voted tribe, we voted religion, now let’s vote competence, so that we can start solving our problems, now let’s vote capacity, so we can start solving problems,” he said.
Obi accused the government of failing to deliver on promises, particularly in electricity supply and employment.
“They promised uninterrupted power, but the only increase we’ve seen is in tariffs, the more you pay, the more darkness you get.
“Our unemployment has gone from 40 percent to 4 percent? The streets are filled with jobless youths, yet no one is worried,” he said.
The acting National Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Usman, echoed Obi’s concerns in a speech delivered by her media aide, Ken Asogwa.
Reflecting on June 12, Senator Usman questioned whether Nigeria’s current system honours the sacrifices of pro-democracy martyrs like MKO Abiola.
“Our democracy mocks its own name. Elections are rituals, not reflections of the people’s will,” she said.
Senator Usman called for urgent youth-led action, saying, “Young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow; you are the leaders of now. Your energy, innovation, and resilience are Nigeria’s greatest untapped assets.
“From technology and agriculture to entertainment and digital enterprise, Nigerian youth are already building global brands from local ideas. But they cannot succeed alone.”
COPDEM’s National Chairman, Prince Rwang Pam, cautioned that youth neglect could fuel unrest, saying, “A silent anger is brewing. If ignored, it will explode into negative energy.”
The summit, attended by Ms. Ankio Briggs, Prof. Udenta Udenta and other key figures, marked a push for greater youth involvement in governance and policy-making.
The summit, which was targeted at enhancing youth engagement in political processes, saw a gathering of political leaders, activists, and young innovators focused on preserving Nigeria’s democracy.
