At 66: How far has democracy grown in Nigeria?

By Jude Opara

Democracy is globally understood as the government of the people, by the people, and for the people, with the fundamental objective of protecting lives and property. Since gaining independence from Britain in 1960, Nigeria has experienced the typical triumphs and setbacks of a developing sovereign nation.

At independence, the British handed over a democratic system running a true republican model. The initial three regions enjoyed semi-autonomy, managing their internal affairs and resources while paying royalties or taxes to the central government. This decentralized structure fostered healthy development competition—such as the Western Region establishing the nation’s first television station and university, followed by similar feats in the Eastern and Northern regions.

However, the 1966 military intrusion disrupted this progress, introducing a centralized, unitary system of governance. Even though Nigeria transitioned back to civilian rule in 1999—following the public outrage over the military’s annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election won by Chief Moshood Abiola—the practical structures of governance have remained largely centralized.

Since 1999, Nigeria has achieved an unbroken streak of constitutional democracy, marked by periodic general elections every four years.

Looking ahead to the January 16, 2027, presidential election, the political landscape features major contenders including incumbent President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Despite these democratic milestones, the rhetoric emerging ahead of upcoming elections raises serious concerns:

Campaign Restrictions: Several state governors have unconstitutionally barred opposition candidates from campaigning in their states without prior executive approval, directly violating constitutional rights to freedom of movement and association.

Exorbitant Billboard Fees: State authorities have dramatically inflated candidate display fees and turned a blind eye to the destruction of opposition billboards by political thugs.

Incendiary Rhetoric: Public officials have made outright democratic threats. Hon. Danjuma Shekwolo, Chairman of Kuje Area Council, recently warned residents who fail to vote for President Tinubu to move out of the area. Similar threats of violence or disenfranchisement have been made by politicians across Osun, Borno, Ebonyi, Edo, Benue, Enugu, and Lagos states.

As Nigeria celebrates its 66th Independence Anniversary, the political class must rise above divisive, undemocratic conduct. Elections are a civic platform for free choice, not an arena for conflict. Politicians must exercise restraint, uphold the rule of law, and protect democratic institutions to avoid creating pretexts for anti-democratic instability.