Beyond the ballot
Nigerian leaders express concerns over democracy's effectiveness, calling for reforms to reflect cultural realities.
Nigerian leaders, including Olusegun Obasanjo and Peter Obi, have expressed concerns that democracy in Nigeria is not functioning as it should. They argue that Western democracy is ineffective in Africa and requires reform to reflect cultural realities. Obasanjo calls for a redefinition, while Obi highlights flaws in Nigeria’s democratic system. Bishop Kukah condemns religious manipulation, and Aminu Tambuwal stresses responsible governance. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s House of Representatives advances 23 constitutional amendment bills, including 10 judicial and 13 electoral reforms. Key proposals include strengthening judicial independence, regulating political parties, and empowering the Independent National Electoral Commission to oversee local elections to promote transparency, accountability, and credibility in Nigeria’s electoral process.
The growing chorus of Nigerian leaders calling for a fundamental reassessment of the country's democratic model reflects a broader continental reckoning with governance systems that have failed to deliver for citizens. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Governor Peter Obi's critique of Western-style democracy's suitability for Nigeria's socio-cultural context mirrors trends across Sub-Saharan Africa, where Freedom House data reveals a fragmented democratic landscape.
While nations like Ghana (82/100, "Free"), Cabo Verde (92/100), and Botswana (72/100) demonstrate stable democratic institutions, others tell a story of backsliding or stagnation. Nigeria's score (44-50/100, "Partly Free") underscores systemic flaws – electoral malpractice, institutional weakness, and elite capture – that Obasanjo and Obi highlight. The data validates their concerns: Nigeria's democracy scores have remained stagnant since 2017, even as Ghana and Cabo Verde maintained high marks.
The critique extends beyond Nigeria. Benin's dramatic decline from 82 ("Free") in 2017 to 61 ("Partly Free") in 2024 exemplifies how quickly democratic gains can unravel, while Tunisia's fall from 78 to 51 shows the fragility of post-revolutionary democracies. Meanwhile, South Sudan (1/100), Eritrea (2/100), and Sudan (6/100) remain entrenched in authoritarianism, their scores among the continent's worst.
Bishop Matthew Kukah's warnings about religious weaponisation and Tambuwal's emphasis on accountability resonate with regional patterns. In Kenya (48-52/100) and Zambia (51-54/100), "Partly Free" ratings reflect similar tensions between electoral politics and substantive representation. Even South Africa (79/100), long a regional democratic beacon, faces mounting challenges with corruption and institutional decay.
Yet the irony is inescapable. Many critics, including Mr Obasanjo – whose 2007 "selection not election" remains infamous – helped create the systems they now condemn. This credibility gap mirrors continental contradictions: Mauritius (85/100) and Namibia (77/100) show democratic resilience, while Mali's descent to 26/100 ("Not Free") after its 2020 coup illustrates how quickly progress can collapse.
The path forward requires more than nostalgia for African "alternatives" to democracy. Nigeria's proposed constitutional reforms – judicial independence, electoral transparency – align with what works elsewhere: Lesotho's improvement to 66/100 ("Free") shows institutional reforms bearing fruit. But technical fixes alone won't suffice. As Senegal's decline from 78 to 67 proves, democratic health depends on cultural shifts – curbing corruption, ending exclusionary politics, and prioritising citizen welfare over elite interests.
The data suggests a sobering truth: Africa's democratic struggles are neither inevitable nor irreversible. The Gambia's rise from 20 ("Not Free") to 50 ("Partly Free") post-dictatorship demonstrates renewal is possible. But it requires leaders who practice what they preach – a rarity in a region where, as the numbers show, too many democracies remain "Partly Free" in name and unfulfilled in promise.
Nigeria's debate thus matters beyond its borders. With 1 in 5 Africans living under its democracy, its success or failure will resonate continent-wide. The lesson from the data is clear: the solution isn't less democracy but better democracy – one that learns from both Africa's successes and its setbacks.