As Nigeria marks 26 years of interrupted democracy, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and political parties have said that indiscipline is a threat to the system.
With the nation rolling out drums to celebrate this year’s Democracy Day, CSOs have expressed concerns over how the political class has managed Nigeria’s democratic experience since 1999.
The administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari changed the country’s Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12, the day the presidential election of the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola was nullified in 1993 by the then military junta of General Ibrahim Babangida.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP on this year’s Democracy Day celebration, the CSOs expressed concerns over the early start of political activities and electoral reforms, listed the qualities expected of the next Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC chairman, and expressed doubt if the umpire had learnt any lessons ahead of the 2027 elections.
The executive director of the Grassroots Centre for Rights and Civic Orientation, Armsfree Ajanaku, told our correspondent that the political class has managed democratic processes in a way that had alienated the Nigerian people and made the entire nation-building project appear to be about the exclusive empowerment of elected and appointed officials.
Ajanaku said impunity had been endemic in the system, and to make matters worse, the management of the democratic process alongside the economy has resulted in the deepening of extreme poverty.
According to him, the political class had created a double jeopardy. “The Nigerian people are fast losing hope in democracy as the vehicle for realising national aspirations, while simultaneously deepening poverty. Even the ancillary benefits of democracy and popular participation, such as the rule of law, press freedom, and inclusive governance, have suffered due to the attitude of the political elite. Little wonder, the data shows a steady decline in electoral processes at the national and sub-national levels,” Ajanaku said.
He also expressed worry at the early start of political activities, saying that with two full years left on the constitutional mandate given to the current crop of political class, they are paying little attention to governance, while spending a larger chunk of time on political activities.
“We have seen defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which are driven by the president’s re-election bid and the defectors’ political survival.
“Yet insecurity is worsening, poverty is deepening despite claims of reforms, while inflationary pressures undermine whatever has been done in the context of the review of the national minimum wage.
“The urgency, which should be adopted in tackling the Nigerian people’s developmental challenges, has been replaced by the somnolence of political manoeuvring and survival. The Nigerian people are at the receiving end of these inequities and inefficiencies,” the Grassroots Centre for Rights and Civic Orientation boss said.
While expressing concern over the electoral reforms and the qualities expected of the next INEC chairman, he said: “If the manner of appointment of INEC National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners, which we have seen recently, is anything to go by, civil society and the media would have to be alive to their responsibilities to prevent opaqueness and lack of critical scrutiny in the appointment of the next INEC helmsman.
“Similarly, given the wide-ranging proposals for reform sent to the National Assembly for legislative action, a lot of advocacy pressure would have to be applied if those reforms were to see the light of day in time for the 2027 polls.”
On whether the electoral umpire had learnt any lessons ahead of the 2027 elections, Ajanaku said, “Recent off-cycle polls have indicated a lot of cleaning up to do in our electoral process.
“INEC is central to this, but it must be noted that making our elections meet the global minimum standards for credible elections is a shared responsibility.”
For his part, the director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD, West Africa), Dr Dauda Garuba, said that, given the people’s bad experiences with elections and the declining level of governance in the country, it is natural that many well-meaning Nigerians will be concerned about where the government is headed.
He also observed that this is about the first time the reelection campaign for incumbents has taken root long before their midterm appraisals.
“The danger of this will be that governance is being abandoned for campaigns not hinged on performance,” he said.
On electoral reforms, Garuba said, “The issues begging for reforms are likely to be further expanded by the expiration of the tenure of many INEC officers in the last quarter of 2025, including the present chairman.”
Similarly, two not-for-profit and advocacy organisations, the Africa Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) and Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), have expressed concern over electoral reforms as election remains a bastion of democracy.
In a policy brief on improving election credibility in the country unveiled last week, the Centre LSD, headed by Monday Osasah and WRAPA, under the leadership of Saudatu Mahdi, the organisations said Nigeria’s elections have always been fraught with fraud.
According to them, between 1999 and the 2023 general elections, realities and instances of manipulations, inducement, falsification, abduction of political opponents, and voter suppression were commonplace.
“This has created a bad perspective in Nigerians that their votes do not count. Elections, however, are supposed to invoke political awe, which is considered sacrosanct and the ablest moment in the leadership recruitment drive,” he said.
IPAC Decries Defections, Lack Of Party Discipline
On its part, the national chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle, has given a measured but hopeful assessment of Nigeria’s democratic journey over the past 26 years, highlighting progress in political transitions and human rights while warning of growing threats to democratic integrity posed by political defections and institutional weaknesses.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP, Dantalle said Nigeria has made “significant achievements” in democratic consolidation, primarily through multiple successful elections that have enabled peaceful transitions between administrations and political parties since 1999.
“There has been a marked improvement in the nation’s democratic architecture,” he said, “with more vibrancy in civil liberties and a decline in arbitrary arrests and torture.”
Dantalle, however, acknowledged persistent challenges, particularly with press freedom, noting that despite the growth of a vibrant media, journalists still face harassment and detention.
On the economic front, the IPAC chairman pointed to a 192 per cent increase in GDP since 1999 as evidence of growth, but he stressed that overdependence on oil and recent economic reforms have triggered rising inflation and poverty.
He also expressed concern about worsening insecurity and the impact of conflict on agriculture and food prices.
“Security challenges such as Boko Haram, banditry, and farmer-herder clashes have displaced communities, reduced food production, and made life harder for ordinary Nigerians,” he said.
Dantalle emphasised the need to deepen democratic governance, especially at the grassroots.
He called for the scrapping State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) and assigning local government elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“This reform is vital to improve accountability and democratic representation at the local level,” he added.
Reacting to the wave of political defections nationwide, Dantalle expressed concern over the undermining effect on democracy.
“While every Nigerian has the constitutional right to associate with any political party, the defection of elected officials raises serious moral and legal questions,” he noted.
“Defecting with a mandate given by a party robs that party, and by extension the electorate, of their choice.”
Dantalle criticised the lack of enforcement of constitutional provisions requiring defecting legislators to vacate their seats, and advocated similar legal clauses to apply to executive office holders.
IPAC, he added, firmly condemned the practice and reaffirms its support for multi-party democracy, dismissing fears of a looming one-party state.
“The idea of a one-party system is unrealistic in a country as diverse as Nigeria,” he stated.
Addressing concerns that political parties are enabling the erosion of democratic values through a lack of ideology and internal discipline, Dantalle said the problem is not universal.
FG Cancels Parade, Tinubu To Address Nation, Visit NASS
As Nigeria prepares to mark its 26th Democracy Day today, the federal government has released key details of the national celebration. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to lead the day’s events.
According to a statement from the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Democracy Day celebration, unlike previous years, there will be no Democracy Day parade.
Instead, the day’s highlight will be the President’s appearance at a special joint session of the National Assembly scheduled for noon.
FOR MORE READ: June 12: Federal Gov’t Cancels Democracy Day Parade
The joint session is expected to feature addresses on the state of the nation, reflections on Nigeria’s democratic journey, and renewed calls for national unity and reform.
Later in the day, a public lecture will be held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, at 4p.m. The event will bring together government officials, political leaders, and stakeholders in civil society to reflect on the country’s democratic trajectory under the theme “Consolidating on the Gains of Nigeria’s Democracy: Necessity of Enduring Reforms.”
Tinubu Cancels Broadcast, To Address Nigerians from NASS
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has cancelled the national broadcast earlier scheduled for 7 a.m. today in commemoration of Nigeria’s 26th Democracy Day anniversary. Instead, he will deliver his Democracy Day address before a special joint session of the National Assembly.
This change was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by the director of information and public relations, Segun Imohiosen.
“Due to H.E. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s scheduled attendance at the National Assembly Joint Session, the Presidential National Broadcast on June 12 has been cancelled,” the statement read.
“Other Democracy Day activities will continue as earlier announced. These include a public lecture scheduled for 4p.m. at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
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