Democracy itself isn't the problem the way it's practiced in Nigeria is a few deep rooted issues keep it from working the way it should.
Weak institution, strong individuals
in healthy democracies, institutions are stronger than politicians, in Nigeria it's often the opposite, courts, police, electoral bodies and regulators are easily influenced by those in power, so rules bend depending on who you are, not what the law says.
Corruption as a system not an exception
Corruption isn't just bad people stealing money, it's baked into how politics is funded and rewarded, Elections are extremely expensive,so politicians see office as an investment they must recover through contracts, kickbacks, and looting,
Poor civic education and voter apathy
Many citizens don't fully understand their power or have lost faith that voting changes anything, low turnout makes it easier for rigging and manipulation to decide outcomes.
Impunity and lack of consequences
Election rigging, abuse of office and corruption rarely lead to serious punishment, when leaders know nothing will happen, bad behavior becomes normal.
Colonial structure still lingers
Nigerias political system was designed for control, not accountability, power is too centralized at the federal level, making politics a winner takes all fight rather than a service to the people. So does democracy truly fall in Nigeria? Not exactly, what's falling is democratic culture rule of law, accountability, transparency, and active citizenship, Democracy isn't just elections, it's daily enforcement of rules and consequencess.
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The word democracy is described as the government of the people, by the people and for the people right?, but here in Nigeria the government is for the politicians that are very selfish and governs for their selfish interest and bothered not about the masses, the only time they know that the masses exist is during the time for elections that's when you see them sluggishly travel to the rural areas and give the Youths peanuts to vote for them and afterwards disappears into tin air.
Democracy would have been one of the best systems of governance if the politicians were doing the right time and I want to clearly say that democracy didn't fail in Nigeria, it's the politicians and those in power that has failed Nigeria because of bribery and corruption that has eaten deep into every institution in the country and all these are masterminded by politicians,. Those who hold public offices sees it as means of enriching themselves forgetting that they were meant to serve the public not for embezzlement even the laws doesn't take it full course on them because it is believed immunity covers them.
