CORRUPTION AND THE UNRAVELING OF NIGERIA'S DEMOCRACY:

 

The Dangerous Drift Toward a One-Party State

Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999 was greeted with immense hope.

 After years of military dictatorship, the promise of pluralism, accountability, and competitive politics seemed finally within reach. Yet, more than two decades later—particularly from 2023 to date—that promise appears to be steadily eroding. Corruption, elite capture of state institutions, and the systematic weakening of opposition parties are dragging Nigeria’s democracy backwards, perilously close to zero.

Democracy Under Siege

At the heart of democracy lies competition: the free contest of ideas, parties, and leadership visions. When opposition parties are strong, governments are compelled to perform, explain their actions, and respect the will of the people. However, Nigeria’s current political climate tells a troubling story. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has, through a mix of inducements, defections, political pressure, and institutional leverage, steadily absorbed or neutralized rival political parties.

Defections have become less about ideology or policy alignment and more about survival and access to power. Elected officials abandon the platforms on which they were voted into office, often without consequence, undermining the sanctity of the voter’s mandate. This culture of political opportunism, fueled by corruption, weakens democratic accountability and reduces elections to mere formalities.

The Illusion of Stability, the Reality of Decline

Supporters of near one-party dominance often argue that it brings stability and efficiency. History, however, teaches a different lesson. A one-party system—whether declared or achieved by default—breeds complacency, arrogance, and abuse of power. Without a credible opposition, corruption flourishes unchecked, state institutions are politicized, and dissenting voices are silenced, either overtly or subtly.

Nigeria has walked this road before. The collapse of the First and Second Republics was not accidental; it was the outcome of political intolerance, corruption, and the concentration of power in too few hands. The current trajectory bears uncomfortable similarities.

APC and the Paradox of Power

Ironically, the APC’s greatest threat may not come from opposition parties, but from within. History shows that dominant parties in near one-party states often implode under the weight of internal contradictions—factional struggles, power hoarding, and leadership arrogance. When internal dissent replaces healthy external opposition, politics becomes a zero-sum game, often ending in instability.

Dictatorship—whether civilian or military in nature—inevitably leads to destruction: economic decline, social unrest, and loss of national cohesion. No party, no matter how powerful, is immune to this cycle.

A Call to Defend Democratic Values

Nigeria’s democracy can still be salvaged, but it requires deliberate action. Political parties must rebuild ideological clarity and internal democracy. Institutions such as the judiciary, electoral bodies, and anti-corruption agencies must be genuinely independent. Most importantly, citizens must resist political apathy and demand accountability, transparency, and respect for their votes.

Democracy is not sustained by one dominant party, but by strong institutions, active opposition, and an engaged populace. The danger Nigeria faces today is not merely bad governance, but the gradual normalization of a system where power is monopolized and corruption becomes policy.

If unchecked, the current drift toward a one-party state will not strengthen Nigeria—it will weaken it. And in the end, those who engineer such a system may become its first victims.