Former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has raised alarm over Nigeria’s democratic stagnation, warning that the country risks slipping back into authoritarianism despite 26 years of civilian rule.
Speaking at The Platform Nigeria’s June 12 event in Lagos, Jega emphasized that mere civilian governance is not equal to democracy.
Presenting a paper titled “Required Reforms for Stronger Democratic Institutions in Nigeria,” Jega lamented that what Nigeria currently practices is “democrazy”—a system marked by electoral malpractice, misgovernance, and self-serving politicians.
He warned that elected leaders, who should be champions of democracy, have become its biggest threat.
According to him, Nigeria’s long transition since 1999 has failed to achieve true democratic consolidation due to weak institutions and a lack of democratic values among leaders.
He stressed that no country can build a strong democracy without democrats—civilians who uphold democratic norms and operate within institutional limits.
To reverse the trend, Jega advocated for the reorientation of political actors, recruitment of decent leaders, and reform of institutions to withstand authoritarian tendencies. “We must catalyze a governance system that delivers for the people,” he said.
