By John Moses
A senior academic has urged Nigerians to acknowledge and celebrate the country’s 26 years of uninterrupted democratic governance, while calling for renewed efforts to tackle insecurity and reinforce institutional independence.
Professor Jonah Onuoha, a political scientist at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, made the remarks ahead of Nigeria’s annual Democracy Day, observed on 12 June. He praised the resilience of Nigeria’s democratic system, which he noted has endured since the historic transition from military to civilian rule in 1999.
“Many nations have not been as fortunate,” Onuoha said in an interview. “For over two decades, we have preserved civil rule, and that is a commendable feat worthy of reflection.”
However, the academic—who also serves as Director of the Centre for American Studies at the same university—warned that persistent security threats could erode democratic gains. He emphasised that criminal violence, terrorism and other forms of insecurity must be addressed swiftly if future elections, including those in 2027, are to proceed without disruption.
“The government’s efforts so far have not been sufficient,” he stated. “Security agencies must intensify action to protect lives and property and to maintain investor confidence.”
Professor Onuoha also stressed the importance of institutional balance, criticising what he sees as an overbearing executive arm of government. He called for a stronger and more independent judiciary and legislature, which he believes are crucial to ensuring electoral credibility and democratic accountability.
“A thriving democracy depends on checks and balances,” he explained. “Only when all three arms of government function independently can the true will of the people be reflected through the ballot box.”
