Politics
Concerns About Democracy Collapsing in Nigeria. What’s Next?
They started in 199, and laid the foundation. Some people came and took it to the decking while others were trying to raise it to the first floor. And then, some people came and knocked everything down. That is the situation we are now. Everything has been knocked down.
” Democracy will work if the actors play by the rules. It’s work in progress. Under OBJ (Obasanjo), state of emergency was declared. The NASS worked together to ensure that 2/3 majority passed the emergency. Each member had to vote. “In this same NASS we have the same constitution. What happened in the last one? We need to chase out the bad operators in democracy.”
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, including the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have strongly voiced out that Democracy is collapsing in Nigeria.
Nigeria became a demoratic country in 199, with Obasanjo as its first democratically elected president.
But 26 years down the journey, several eminent Nigerians, former governors and past public office holders are now expressing fears over the falling standards of democracy in Nigeria.
They voiced their fears during a colloquium held at the Abuja Intercontinental Hotel to mark the 60th birthday celebration of former Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, which was chaired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Also in attendance were former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Emeka Anyaoku; former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi; former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; and the immediate past Governor of Katsina, Aminu Masari.
In his keynote address titled ‘Is Democracy Failing in Africa?’ Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, lamented that it seemed like Nigeria’s democracy only worked for a few selected persons.
Kukah said: “We as Africans inherited a system that is not ours, but we can’t say it is not relevant to us. There are differences between democracy in Asia and that of Africa. I feel sorry for the judges. At the last election, even small me, I had people calling me, complaining, talk to this, talk to that.
“There was pressure on judges to deliver justice. I agree that there’s an urgent need to clean up the mess. Democracy is about everything, and it’s about justice. Democracy and its principles are endless contestations.
There are certain things God has given us which people can’t control.”Kukah urged politicians to borrow a leaf from the cat-and-mouse relationship between Obasanjo and Atiku, which he said also helped to deepen democracy. “The relationship between Obasanjo and Atiku is like a Catholic marriage. You will quarrel without breaking up… “Democracy is a work in progress.”
On his part, Obasanjo said that what Africa was practising today’s a mere reflection of ‘representative democracy.’ .
Abraham Lincoln describes it as a government of the people, by the people and for the people. But what do we have today? The Greek democracy affects everyone. Democracy has now become representative democracy and it hasn’t taken care of everyone.
“Democracy in Africa has failed because it’s not African, it didn’t have our culture and way of lives. You will say, ‘go to court’ when you know that you can’t get justice.Democracy is dying in Africa and to save it, it should be made in the context of Africa,” Obasanjo said.
Peter Obi asserted that many progressive-minded leaders from 1999 have been striving to raise the bar of the country’s democracy to an enviable height
Peter Obi, submitted: “They started democracy in 199, and laid the foundation. Some people came and took it to the decking while others were trying to raise it to the first floor. And then, some people came and knocked everything down. That is the situation we are now. Everything has been knocked down.
Nothing works. I am somebody who can say this exemplarily. I became a governor through the court when President Olusegun Obasanjo and Vice President Atiku Abubakar were in government.I did not pay the court one naira.
I was sitting in my office and the court declared me the winner when the governor was hosting them.
It can’t happen in Nigeria today… So, democracy has failed. Let’s talk about how to rebuild it because it is collapsing.”
at the event, Atiku reflected on the price many leaders paid for the realisation of democratic rule. “In my case, I ran into exile because Abacha was very hostile,” he said.
The former Vice President, however, praised Ihedioha for remaining loyal despite belonging to different political platforms. “
Emeka and I have kept this relationship and till today I have found him extremely loyal, dedicated and focused even though sometimes we found ourselves on different political divides but we kept our relationship and I think that testifies with the kind of person Emeka is,” he said.
The former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal believes Nigerians can make democracy thrive as long as everybody is willing to play their roles.
Tambuwal, who condemned the recent state of emergency imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, criticised the National Assembly for the unconstitutional manner it approved it.
He said, “Democracy will work if the actors play by the rules. It’s work in progress. Under OBJ (Obasanjo), state of emergency was declared. The NASS worked together to ensure that 2/3 majority passed the emergency. Each member had to vote. “In this same NASS we have same constitution. What happened in the last one? We need to chase out the bad operators in democracy.”
The former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, however, said it was high time Nigeria reviewed the 1999 Constitution to address the plethora of problems plaguing its structure. According to him, the country cannot afford to lose its enviable status in the international community.
“As Commonwealth Secretary-General, I helped members to transit to multi-party democracy. We need a new constitution to address many challenges.
True federalism is the answer to the management of national issues. The recent coups in Mali and Niger tend to take us back. “The nature of our politics and the conduct of our politicians is another problem of our democracy. They have become instruments of capturing political power.
It’s only true, stable democratic governance that can rid our country of the crises which impede development. “I believe that Nigeria can change this Eurocentric narrative. We in Africa and Nigeria have a responsibility to get a stable democracy and change the Eurocentric narrative,” he stated.
Politics
Facts About NDC Led By Seriake Dickson
The NDC is in the middle of building its party structures from the ground up:
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) is a newly registered political party in Nigeria gearing up for the 2027 general elections.
INEC recently registered NDC after a Federal High Court in Lokoja ruled in suit FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025.
The court said that NDC’s logo was distinct and ordered INEC to register them. INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan complied.
Here’s what’s happening with them right now:
Quick facts:
National Leader: Senator Seriake Dickson, former Bayelsa State governor
National Chairman: Senator Moses Cleopas
National Secretary: Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu
Ideology: Market economy, democracy, equal rights, justice, freedom of speech/press/religion, human rights
Slogan: “We the People Unite for Progress”
What they’re doing right now.
The NDC is in the middle of building its party structures from the ground up:
May 1-2, 2026 – Ward and polling unit congresses
May 4, 2026 – Local government and state congresses
May 6, 2026 – Zonal congresses
May 9, 2026 – Maiden National Convention in Abuja.
INEC officials will monitor the convention as required by the Electoral Act. Security agencies have also been put on notice.
2027 plans and positioning
Goal: Provide a “credible ideological alternative” and prevent Nigeria from becoming a one-party state
Strategy: Grassroots mobilisation + digital membership registration portal
Membership target:
300-500 verifiable members per ward, with emphasis on real supporters not inflated figures.
Inclusiveness: Affirmative action for women and youth inclusion in party structures
Politics
2027: ADC Releases Timetable for Presidential, Governorship primaries
Accordingly, the sale of nomination forms will take place from May 5 to May 10, 2026, while submission of completed forms is scheduled for May 11 to May 13, 2026.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has released its timetable for the conduct of its 2026 primary elections, outlining guidelines and procedures for the nomination of candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Accordingly, the sale of nomination forms will take place from May 5 to May 10, 2026, while submission of completed forms is scheduled for May 11 to May 13, 2026.
In the schedule signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, while the presidential nomination form is pegged at N100 million, governorship at N50 million, Senate at N20 million, House of Representatives at N10 million, and State House of Assembly at N3 million.
The timetable provides a detailed roadmap for all activities leading to the primaries, as follows:
“The party will conduct the screening of aspirants from May 14 to May 15, 2026, followed by the publication of screening results on May 17, 2026.
Appeals will be heard between May 18 and May 19, with the final list of cleared aspirants to be released on May 20, 2026,” the party said.
“Primary elections for State Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives, and Senate seats will hold on May 21, 2026, while the governorship primaries are scheduled for May 22, 2026.
The presidential primary will take place on May 25, 2026,” the party added.
Politics
Obi Dumps ADC, Here’s Why
Let me assure all that I am not desperate to be President, Vice President, or Senate President.
Peter Gregory Obi, shares on his X, this afternoon: ” Fellow Nigerians, good morning.
I woke up this morning after my church service with a deeply reflective heart, and despite every constraint, I felt compelled to share these thoughts with you.
Many people do not truly understand the silent pains some of us carry daily—the private struggles, emotional burdens, and quiet battles we face while trying to survive and serve sincerely in difficult circumstances.
We now live in an environment that has become increasingly toxic, where the very system that should protect and create opportunities for decent living often works against the people—a society where intimidation, insecurity, endless scrutiny, and discouragement have become normal.
More painful is when some of those you associate with, believing you would find understanding and solidarity among them, become part of the pressure you face. Some who publicly identify with you privately distance themselves or join in unfair criticism.
We live in a society where humility is mistaken for weakness, respect is seen as a lack of courage, and compassion is treated as foolishness—a system where treating people equally is questioned simply because you refuse to worship status, tribe, class, or power.
Personally, I have never looked down on anyone except to uplift them. I have never used privilege, position, or resources to oppress others, intimidate the weak, or make people feel small. To me, leadership has always been about service, sacrifice, and helping others rise.
Let me state clearly: my decision to leave the ADC is not because our highly respected Chairman, Senator David Mark, treated me badly, nor because my leader and elder brother, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, or any other respected leaders did anything personally wrong to me.
I will continue to respect them.However, the same Nigerian state and its agents that created unnecessary crises and hostility within the
Labour Party that forced me to leave now appear to be finding their way into the ADC, with endless court cases, internal battles, suspicion, and division, instead of focusing on deeper national problems and playing politics built more on control and exclusion than on service and nation-building.
Let me state clearly: my decision to leave the ADC is not because our highly respected Chairman, Senator David Mark, treated me badly, nor because my leader and elder brother, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, or any other respected leaders did anything personally wrong to me.
Even within spaces where one labours sincerely, one is sometimes treated like an outsider in one’s own home.
You and your team become easy targets for every failure, frustration, or misunderstanding, as though honest contribution has become a favour being tolerated rather than appreciated.
And when you choose to leave so that those you are leaving can have peace, and you step out into the cold, you are still maligned and your character is questioned.
Despite all your efforts to continue working for a better Nigeria and engaging people with sincerity and goodwill, those who do not wish you well continue to attack your character and question your intentions.
There are moments I ask God in prayer: Why is doing the right thing often misconstrued as wrongdoing in our country?
Why is integrity not valued? Why is the prudent management of resources, especially when invested in critical areas like education and healthcare, wrongly labelled as stinginess?
Why are humility and obedience to the rule of law often taken to be weakness rather than discipline?
Let me assure all that I am not desperate to be President, Vice President, or Senate President.
I am desperate to see a society that can console a mother whose child has been kidnapped or killed while going to school or work.
I am desperate to see a Nigeria where people will not live in IDP camps but in their homes.
I am desperate for a country where Nigerian citizens do not go to bed hungry, not knowing where their next meal will come from.Yet, despite everything,
I remain resolute. I firmly believe that Nigeria can still become a country with competent leadership based on justice, compassion, and equal opportunity for all.
A new Nigeria is POssible.
-PO
May 3, 2026·
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