Obi Warns: Democracy in Nigeria Now Tool for Elite State Capture
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has raised the alarm that democracy in Nigeria is losing its essence, warning that it has become a tool for elite state capture and private gain.
Speaking in Accra, Ghana, at the 2025 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Annual Democracy Dialogue themed “What Makes Democracy Die?”, Obi said democracy in Nigeria no longer serves the people or holds leaders accountable.
In a statement issued in Onitsha by his media aide, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, the former Anambra State Governor described democracy as a system built on accountability, service to citizens, security, education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation.
He lamented, however, that Nigeria’s democracy has been hijacked by political elites who use it to access public resources for personal and family interests.
“Democracy in Nigeria is under threat because it no longer serves the people or holds leaders accountable,” Obi said. “It dies when it ceases to be accountable to the people and when it no longer prioritises their needs. Nigeria is a typical example of this tragic reality.”
Obi stressed that reversing the decline would require Nigerians to take elections seriously and demand leaders with competence, capacity, character, compassion, and commitment to genuine service.
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