“Justice for Sale, Democracy Under Siege”: Kaduna Stakeholders Raise Alarm Over Nigeria’s Shrinking Civic Space
Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna
Civil society leaders and democracy advocates have warned that Nigeria’s democracy is steadily losing its substance, as selective justice, shrinking civic space, and abuse of power become increasingly normalised in public life.
These concerns dominated a Kaduna roundtable organised by the Organization for Community Civic Engagement (OCCEN) with support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), held under the theme “Civil Society Support for Democracy in a Politically Charged Nigeria.”
Participants described a political environment where democratic principles exist largely in name, while their practical application continues to erode.
A major issue repeatedly raised was the collapse of the rule of law.
Speakers argued that justice in Nigeria is increasingly determined by wealth, political connections, or loyalty to those in power.
According to them, when laws are enforced selectively, democracy becomes hollow, public trust in institutions declines, and insecurity deepens.
Participants also expressed deep concern over the normalisation of repression, noting that arrests, intimidation, and harassment of citizens for expressing critical opinions are now carried out openly and often justified by authorities.
They warned that such practices have created a climate of fear, discouraging civic participation and silencing dissent.
Welcoming participants, Yusha’u Abubakar, who represented the Executive Director of OCCEN, Abdurazak Alkali, cautioned that democracy cannot survive without fairness, justice, and strict adherence to the rule of law.
He noted that Nigeria is increasingly mirroring democratic setbacks across West Africa, where governance failures and instability have weakened civilian rule.
He also highlighted the persistent exclusion of marginalised groups, including persons with disabilities, from democratic and civic processes.
Delivering his goodwill message, Musbahu Ashiru, Executive Director of the Youth and Community Development Initiative (YCDI), questioned whether Nigeria is genuinely practising democracy or merely using it as a pathway for elite power.
He cited cases where individuals were detained for criticising public officials, describing such actions as clear violations of freedom of expression and fundamental rights.
According to him, democracy in Nigeria often ends once elections are concluded, leaving citizens powerless until the next voting cycle.
Ashiru warned that without social media and citizen journalism, many abuses of power would go unnoticed, further shrinking civic space and weakening accountability.
From the standpoint of transparency and citizen participation, Musa Suleiman, Co-Chair of Citizens’ Engagement, Open Government Partnership (OGP) Kaduna, argued that democracy is increasingly treated as a label rather than a lived reality.
He stressed that democracy should empower citizens and restrain abuse of power, but current practices, both globally and locally suggest a growing departure from these principles.
Participants further linked Nigeria’s worsening insecurity; including banditry, kidnappings, terrorism, and communal conflicts to declining democratic performance.
They warned that insecurity not only erodes citizens’ confidence in government but is also being used to justify excessive use of force, restrictions on civil liberties, and further concentration of power in the executive.
As the country moves toward the 2027 general elections, the roundtable called on civil society to step up efforts to defend democratic values, protect civic space, and hold leaders accountable.
They warned that without urgent reforms and active citizen engagement, Nigeria risks maintaining a democracy that exists only on paper, while justice, rights, and accountability continue to disappear in practice.
