Obi: Nigeria’s Democracy Is Deteriorating, Institutions Risk Losing Public Trust

The 2027 presidential candidate of the New Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has warned that Nigeria’s democracy is deteriorating, accusing key institutions of increasingly accommodating practices that undermine democratic principles.

Obi made the remarks in Bauchi State at the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation’s Democracy Dialogue, themed “Beyond Elections: Can Political Parties and the Judiciary Save African Democracy?”

The former Anambra State governor said the state of democratic institutions in Nigeria had become so concerning that the country was approaching a point where it might no longer be able to meaningfully claim that democracy exists.

Obi recalled his legal battle over the Anambra governorship election, saying the judiciary at the time demonstrated the independence expected of an arm of government by upholding the law and restoring what he described as the will of the people.

He said, “That was democracy at work.”

However, Obi expressed concern that the situation had changed, noting that people accused of violating the law were often the first to tell their opponents to “go to court.”

He also criticised the electoral management system, alleging that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was increasingly accused of enabling electoral malpractice and the emergence of individuals who were either unqualified or lacked the mandate of the people.

Obi further raised concerns about changes to electoral laws, the conduct of some legal practitioners and religious leaders, as well as allegations concerning the judiciary.

He said, “When the very institutions established to protect democracy begin to accommodate its destruction, we must stop pretending that everything is normal.”

The NDC presidential candidate called for sober reflection and honest national dialogue to address what he described as institutional decay threatening Nigeria’s democratic system.

Obi urged Nigerians to examine the country’s democratic journey and take steps to reverse the trend, stressing that the survival of the nation depended on rebuilding institutions and restoring public confidence.