As Nigeria marked the 32nd anniversary of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely considered the freest and fairest in the country’s history, the mood across the nation was muted.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressed a joint sitting of the National Assembly, touting democratic progress.
Yet his remarks were quickly met with sharp rebuke from opposition figures, civil society groups, and citizens disillusioned with the state of the nation.
The day, declared a public holiday, saw minimal public engagement.
Plans for nationwide protests organized by the Take It Back movement fizzled out, and in many states, citizens ignored the occasion, going about their regular activities.
Still, Tinubu attempted to underscore democracy’s growth in Nigeria.
“Year by year, election after election, every time we debate instead of battle, discuss instead of fight, and argue instead of destroying, we preserve the institutions of democracy. More importantly, we weave the culture of democracy into the very fabric of our nation,” he said.
Dismissing claims that his administration is steering Nigeria toward a one-party system, the President assured:
“To those who ring the alarm that the APC is intent on a one-party state, I offer you a most personal promise. While your alarm may be as a result of your panic, it rings in error.
“At no time in the past, nor any instance in the present, and at no future juncture shall I view the notion of a one-party state as good for Nigeria. I have never attempted to alter any political party registration with INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission).”
He added: “We must welcome and accept the diversity and number of political parties just as we welcome and embrace the diversity of our population.”
“Our efforts must never be to eliminate political competition, but to make that competition salutary to the national well-being by working across the political aisle whenever possible.”
However, critics swiftly challenged the administration’s democratic credentials.
Adebayo Adewole, the Social Democratic Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, argued that celebrating Democracy Day under current conditions was meaningless.
“As far as it is not yet bye-bye to poverty and hunger, celebrating June 12 as Democracy Day amounts to an empty show,” he said.
“What is happening is not governance, but conquest.”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was more scathing.
He recalled the hope of June 12, 1993, and lamented its steady erosion.
“Thirty-two years ago, Nigeria stood on the cusp of greatness. The winds of democratic change were sweeping through Africa, and all eyes turned to our nation with hope… It was a moment of great promise and great sacrifice.”
Reflecting on his own role, he added: “I, too, made my fair share of sacrifices, most notably setting aside my own presidential ambition in deference to the late Chief MKO Abiola, a gesture made in faith and fidelity to a higher national cause.”
Atiku condemned what he described as creeping authoritarianism: “Today, Nigeria teeters on the edge of a dangerous precipice, a creeping one-party dictatorship is replacing the democratic order we bled for… What we are witnessing is not governance, it is conquest.”
He warned: “This government represents the lowest ebb in our democratic journey. Institutions have been weaponised.”
“Policies are crafted not to empower the people but to entrench fear, obedience, and control.”
Labour Party leader Peter Obi also weighed in, questioning Nigeria’s democratic integrity.
“In just two years, we have moved from rigged elections to collapsing social services; from soaring poverty to rising corruption; from a seemingly stable economy to a parlous one,” Obi said.
“This government has created a situation where failure, lies, and propaganda are now celebrated. Instead of accountability and measurable progress, we are witnessing the manipulation of narratives, blame-shifting, and governance by gaslighting.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) echoed these concerns, accusing the ruling APC of state capture and an orchestrated dismantling of checks and balances.
PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba alleged: “The APC has embarked on a coordinated campaign to dismantle democratic checks and balances, silence opposition voices, and concentrate power in the hands of a few elite individuals, thereby endangering the sovereignty of the Nigerian people.”
In a further blow to the President’s message, Senator Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa West criticized Tinubu for failing to restore democracy in Rivers State.
The President had earlier suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and state lawmakers, appointing a federal administrator in their place.
“It was very annoying that the Senate President chose today, Democracy Day of all days, to read the President’s own democratic communication to the National Assembly, making appointments into democratic institutions in Rivers State, when today we expected that he should announce the restoration of democracy,” Dickson said.
Citizens shared in the frustration. “They are practising military regime and dictatorship, so what are we celebrating?” said Emma Uzo, a resident of Rivers State.
Meanwhile, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) issued a stark warning on the state of Nigerian democracy.
Its director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, described the country’s democratic landscape as regressing.
“In Nigeria, democracy is backsliding because of the frightening collapse of responsible, transparent, and accountable governance under the watch of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
He added: “Right now, the nation’s democratic institutions are at their weakest point… Instead of building on the gains of past democratic rule, the country is regressing into a governance model defined by unaccountable leadership, weak institutions, killings, and the total exclusion of citizens from decision-making.”
As Nigeria reflects on June 12, voices from across the spectrum are calling for more than ceremonial observance, they are demanding accountability, reform, and the revival of the democratic promise that once inspired a nation.
