The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has expressed deep concerns about the state of democracy in Nigeria, warning that it is at a crossroads and faces the risk of erosion. Speaking as a discussant at the National Conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria held in Abuja on Monday, Atiku emphasized the urgent need for coalition-building, outright mergers among opposition parties, and judicial reforms to protect the country’s democratic system.
Atiku highlighted the fragility of Nigeria’s democracy, stating that state capture has made it increasingly difficult to achieve democratic change. He said:
“There’s no doubt that our democracy is at a crossroads. Put simply, it is at the risk of eroding completely. And it is not caused by one single person or one single administration. In fact, a number of us have been warning over the years that we may come to this pass if we lose our vigilance and fail to take corrective actions to protect and deepen our democracy.”
The former Vice President noted that his efforts to safeguard democratic governance included judicial actions that resulted in landmark rulings aimed at upholding democratic principles. He pointed out that the erosion of democratic values and the freedom of Nigerians to choose their leaders has led to widespread disillusionment and concerns over governance.
Atiku identified state capture as one of the gravest threats to Nigeria’s democracy, which he said has made it increasingly difficult to remove those in power through democratic means. He argued that governance has declined significantly since the First Republic, a period often nostalgically referenced for its developmental achievements.
“The deterioration in people’s freedom to choose their leaders has led to what many now regard as state capture in our country, the gravest consequence of which is the increasing difficulty in removing those in power through democratic means,” Atiku stated.
He also highlighted the role of political parties in sustaining democracy, stressing that strong and independent opposition parties are vital for a functioning democracy.
Atiku criticized the current funding model of political parties in Nigeria, where governors and a few wealthy individuals dominate the process. This, he argued, undermines party supremacy and democratic principles.
“Ownership of parties by or their subordination to individual big men is the antithesis of democracy,” Atiku said. “Funding by governors and a few wealthy individuals is not a democratic model. As we know, he who pays the piper dictates the tune. Funding must be democratised. Members must invest in and co-own parties.”
He proposed a series of reforms, including enforcing consequences for non-compliance with party rules and penalizing electoral malpractice to ensure political integrity.
The PDP candidate urged opposition parties to unite, acknowledging the difficulty of dislodging a ruling party, regardless of its popularity. According to him, coalition-building and outright mergers are critical for creating a strong opposition capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Our own history and examples from other countries prove that coalition-building and outright mergers are critical for building the capacity of the opposition,” Atiku said.
Atiku did not mince words in criticizing the Nigerian judiciary, which he described as a significant threat to democracy in its current state. He lamented that the judiciary, once a beacon of democratic sustenance, now often manipulates technicalities to deny voters their preferred choices instead of upholding the will of the people.
“In a period of less than 20 years, the Nigerian judiciary has moved from being the beacon of democratic sustenance to becoming, arguably, the biggest threat to Nigeria’s democracy,” he said.
Atiku called for reforms to curb judicial recklessness and ensure the judiciary remains an impartial arbiter in electoral disputes. He argued that its role should be to affirm the will of the voters rather than undermine it.
In his concluding remarks, Atiku stressed the importance of taking urgent steps to strengthen democracy in Nigeria. He reiterated that without strong political parties, adherence to democratic norms, and judicial reforms, the country’s democracy remains at risk of further decline.