— Says Nigeria’s democracy in danger of “democrazy”
Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has raised the alarm over what he described as a growing threat of authoritarian reversal in Nigeria, despite 26 years of uninterrupted civilian rule.
Jega made the assertion while delivering a keynote address titled “Required Reforms for Stronger Democratic Institutions in Nigeria” at the June 12, 2025 edition of The Platform Nigeria, organized by The Covenant Nation Global in Lagos.
He said although Nigeria formally exited military rule in 1999, its democratic journey remains fragile, warning that the mere presence of elected civilians in power does not guarantee genuine democracy.
“One of the main challenges Nigeria faces relates to how to prevent reversal to authoritarian rule, in the context of epileptic democratization since 1999,” Jega noted. “To be sure, we have been 26 years in this transition process. But rather than democratic consolidation, authoritarian reversal still hangs over Nigeria like the sword of Damocles.”
He attributed this democratic backslide to the conduct and character of the country’s political class, arguing that many politicians lack a genuine commitment to democratic values.
“Paradoxically, as Godwin Onu recently observed, supposedly democrats have become a threat to democracy,” Jega said, referencing an article in Caliphate Times. “Quite often, rule by civilians who are ‘elected’ is confused with democracy, but civil rule is not a sufficient condition for democratic development.”
The former INEC boss lamented that the quality of governance in Nigeria has been poor, with elected officials often more focused on self-interest than public service.
“What we have since May 29, 1999, as democracy has increasingly become ‘democrazy’,” he declared. “It is characterized by desperate politicians who seek power by any means, misgovern recklessly once elected, and remain largely unresponsive to the needs and aspirations of the people.”
To address the country’s democratic shortcomings, Jega recommended deliberate efforts to reorient the political class and strengthen key democratic institutions.
“We need to train and reorient cadres of democrats,” he said. “We must recruit decent, capable people into politics, and build strong democratic institutions that are resilient and able to check authoritarian tendencies.”
Jega stressed that for democracy to thrive in Nigeria, leaders must not only come to power through the ballot but also govern in a way that respects the rule of law, upholds democratic principles, and delivers real benefits to citizens.
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