Temadayo Onushun

Why Nigeria is crucial to democracy in Africa

Peter Obi, Buhari, Mustafa, Jonathan Rosenthal, Temadayo Onushun, Aisha Nyako

Nigeria, Africa's most populous democracy, faces a severe democratic deterioration driven by a multifaceted security crisis and systemic vote-selling that erodes public trust in state institutions. A stark generational divide between an aging political elite and a youthful majority, characterized by median age of 18 and rampant unemployment, has catalyzed a shift from street protests to active electoral engagement as seen in the 2023 general election. While youth-led movements like the Young Progressives and the 2023 Peter Obi campaign signal a potential political awakening, the long-term sustainability of this momentum hinges on the state's ability to resolve entrenched economic hardship and insecurity before disillusionment sets in.