Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has decried that after years of Nigeria’s transition to democratic rule, authoritarian reversal is still hanging over the country.
Jega stated this while presenting a paper titled ‘Required Reforms for Stronger Democratic Institutions In Nigeria’, at the Platform Nigeria: June 12, 2025 Edition, organized by The Covenant Nation Global, Lagos.
He explained that while rule by civilians who are elected is often confused with democracy, it is not a sufficient condition for democratic development.
He said, “One of the main challenges Nigeria faces relates to how to prevent reversal to authoritarian rule, in the context of epileptic democratization, since 1999, when we commenced transition from authoritarian military rule civil democratic rule. To be sure, we have been 26 years in this transition process, which in the context of our unenviable national history of coups and counter coups between 1966 to 1999, is a record.”
He lamented that the governance path the country seemed to have taken had impeded its progress.
“But the governance trajectory we seem to have taken has restrained our country from making serious progress from mere rule by civilians to desirable democratic rule and good democratic governance. It is regrettable that after such a long time in transition to democratic rule, rather than democratic consolidation, authoritarian reversal is hanging over the country like the sword of Damocles! This is essentially because, paradoxically, as Godwin Onu recently observed, supposedly democrats, have become a threat to democracy! (Caliphate Times June 11, 2025).
“Quite often, rule by civilians who are ‘elected’ is often confused with democracy, but it isn’t necessarily so. Civil rule is a necessary condition, but it isn’t a sufficient condition for democratic development.”
He further added that no nation can truly build and sustain democracy without civilians who have adequate knowledge of democracy and respect its institutions.
“As many scholars have long observed, no nation can build and sustain democracy, without democrats, i.e. civilians who understand what democracy; who imbibe its values and orientation, who respect democratic institutions and who operate within the context of basic tenets of democracy.
“And as many commentators have long observed, what we have since May 29, 1999 as democracy, has increasingly become “democrazy”! Characterized by desperate politicians who struggle to ‘win’ elections by any means necessary; who when in power recklessly misgovern, preoccupied with pursuit of self-serving objectives; essentially irresponsible, and irresponsive to the needs and aspirations of the electorate and the citizens.
“As to what to do under the circumstances? We need to train and reorient cadres of democrats, we need to recruit good decent people into politics; and we need to build and strengthen strong democratic institutions, which are resilient and can withstand and checkmate authoritarian predilections; and catalyze good, democratic governance that can satisfy the needs and aspirations of the Nigerian electorate and citizens.” he added.
