Democracy in Nigeria: Real or Myhtic

Abstract

This paper attempts to answer one of the most debated questions in Nigeria: is Nigeria’s democracy a reality or an illusion? Our answer to the question is that, though no government can claim to possess all the elements of democracy, but a government must possess some elements of democracy to a high degree before it could be termed democratic. By our assessment, the Nigerian government does not possess enough of this and thus cannot justifiably claim to be democratic. It possesses more of the element of authoritarianism than that of democracy and thus could be properly called authoritarian democracy. Democracy in Nigeria is therefore a myth and not a reality. The choice and assessment of Nigeria’s government as authoritarian democracy is premised on the fact that at least, elections or selection of candidates have been taking place for about 16 (sixteen) years now.

DOI: 10.7176/JPCR/50-01

Publication date:August 31^st 2020