Who Is A Democrat Among Nigerian Politicians? (OPINION)
By Isaac Asabor
Nigeria’s political landscape is riddled with contradictions, and at the heart of these contradictions is the oft-repeated but hardly practiced claim of being a democrat. From Abuja to the grassroots, politicians cloak themselves in the garb of democracy, yet their actions betray a deep-seated aversion to its core principles. It begs the question: Who among them is truly a democrat?
The recent political shenanigans in Nigeria have laid bare the sheer hypocrisy of our leaders, who profess democracy with their lips but undermine it with their hands. From brazen election rigging to the suppression of opposition voices, from executive highhandedness to legislative compromise, the so-called democrats in Nigeria have done more to desecrate democracy than to strengthen it.
It has become customary for Nigerian politicians to pay lip service to democracy while perpetuating undemocratic practices. Political officeholders who emerged through questionable means are often the first to lecture citizens on democratic values. Governors who have turned their states into personal fiefdoms where dissent is met with brute force are the ones parading themselves as democratic leaders. Lawmakers who ascend to power through rigged party primaries speak as though they were freely elected by the people.
A truly democratic leader respects the will of the people, upholds the rule of law, and allows institutions to function independently. In Nigeria, however, the opposite is the norm. Electoral bodies are manipulated, security forces are deployed to intimidate opposition figures, and the judiciary is often coerced to deliver favorable judgments to those in power. If democracy is supposed to be about the people, why then is the Nigerian political space so hostile to the genuine expression of popular will?
The foundation of any democracy is credible elections. Yet, in Nigeria, elections have become a ritual that politicians manipulate at will. The use of state resources to tilt the playing field in favor of incumbents is a well-established norm. Ballot snatching, voter suppression, and violence have become synonymous with elections in Nigeria. The recent gubernatorial elections in some states further exposed the ugly underbelly of our democracy. Instead of allowing the people to freely choose their leaders, politicians resorted to intimidation, vote-buying, and outright falsification of results.
A disturbing trend in Nigeria’s democracy is the weaponization of state institutions against opponents. The use of security agencies to arrest, harass, and sometimes assassinate opposition figures is a clear departure from democratic principles. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) have, on several occasions, been accused of selective justice, going after opposition politicians while shielding those in power. A government that uses state machinery to silence dissent cannot claim to be democratic.
Another undeniable sign of Nigeria’s democratic failure is the dominance of political godfathers who impose their will on the people. In several states, governors are mere puppets of powerful political figures who handpick candidates, rig elections in their favor, and dictate government policies. Democracy thrives on free choice, but when political godfathers determine who gets what, when, and how, then the people’s votes become meaningless.
The lack of internal democracy within political parties is another glaring issue. Party primaries, which should be a platform for the people to choose candidates, have been turned into cash-and-carry affairs where the highest bidder gets the ticket. This practice shuts out competent aspirants and paves the way for mediocrity in governance. It is hypocritical for a politician who emerged through a rigged primary process to claim to be a democrat. If democracy is about fairness and inclusiveness, then Nigeria’s political parties have failed woefully in upholding these ideals.
A true democrat respects the rule of law, but in Nigeria, court judgments are obeyed selectively. When judgments favor those in power, they are enforced immediately, but when they go against them, they are either ignored or subjected to endless appeals. The disregard for judicial pronouncements is a major sign of democratic failure. It is not uncommon to see state governors refusing to implement court orders, especially when it comes to local government autonomy. The deliberate refusal to conduct local government elections in many states is another sign of the disdain politicians have for democracy. The same leaders who claim to be democrats are the ones subverting democratic institutions at every turn.
Recent developments in Nigeria have further exposed the hypocrisy of those who claim to be democrats. The undemocratic declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, despite the lack of justification, has raised concerns about the misuse of executive powers to stifle political opponents. Similarly, the recall of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, after being embroiled in controversies, exposes the selective nature of accountability in Nigerian politics. Rather than upholding democratic principles, politicians manipulate legislative processes to serve their personal interests.
Another glaring example of democratic failure is the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Her suspension, widely seen as a politically motivated attack, highlights how those in power weaponize the legislative arm against opposition voices. These acts only reinforce the perception that Nigerian democracy is more about power retention than the protection of democratic rights and principles.
In theory, the legislature is supposed to be independent and serve as a check on the executive. In Nigeria, however, the legislature has become an extension of the executive arm, often rubber-stamping policies without scrutiny. Many lawmakers owe their seats not to the electorate but to party godfathers, and as a result, they cannot challenge the excesses of those who put them in power. The National Assembly, which should be the bastion of democratic engagement, has, in many instances, acted as a mere appendage of the executive. Legislative oversight has been replaced with legislative compromise, where lawmakers prioritize their personal benefits over the collective good.
If democracy is about the will of the people, respect for institutions, and adherence to the rule of law, then one must ask: is there a true democrat among Nigeria’s political elite? The answer is painfully obvious. Most Nigerian politicians are democrats in words but autocrats in practice. They cherish the benefits of democracy, power, influence, and wealth, but reject its obligations, accountability, transparency, and respect for the people’s will.
As the 2027 elections approach, Nigerians must demand more than mere rhetoric from politicians. It is no longer enough for a candidate to claim to be a democrat; his or her actions must reflect democratic values. The citizens must become more politically aware, refuse to be pawns in the hands of political jobbers, and insist on credible leadership.
Against the backdrop of the foregoing view, it is no more in doubt that Nigeria’s democracy is at a crossroads, and its survival depends on the willingness of the people to challenge the status quo. Politicians who perpetuate undemocratic practices should no longer be allowed to deceive the people with empty proclamations of being democrats. The fight for true democracy is not just about elections; it is about ensuring that the principles of justice, fairness, and the rule of law are upheld at all times. Until Nigerian politicians stop their hypocrisy and embrace genuine democracy, the question will remain: who among them is truly a democrat?
