22/10/2025
Good day, everyone.
Today, I’ll be speaking on Nigeria as a practicing politics as an institution and how we can relate that to its performance.
Politics, in any country, is more than just elections or party activities — it is an institution that shapes governance, leadership, and national progress. But how well has this institution performed in Nigeria? Let’s take a closer look.
1. Institutional Weakness
Nigeria operates under a democratic system with established institutions like the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary.
However, these institutions are not as strong as they should be.
• Political influence often overrides institutional rules.
• Public offices are sometimes used for personal gain rather than public service.
This weakens our democratic foundation and reduces public trust in governance
2. Leadership and Accountability
One of the main tests of political performance is leadership accountability.
In Nigeria, many leaders lack a sense of accountability to the people.
Corruption and poor management of public funds are common.
Promises made during campaigns are often forgotten after elections.
As a result, citizens rarely see meaningful improvement in infrastructure, healthcare, or education.
3. Public Participation
Strong political institutions rely on the active involvement of citizens.
But in Nigeria, voter participation remains low.
Many people have lost faith in the electoral process.
Vote buying and election malpractice discourage honest participation.
When citizens are disconnected, political performance naturally declines.
4. Corruption and Nepotism
Corruption remains the biggest challenge to Nigeria’s political performance.
It influences policy decisions, contracts, and appointments.
Nepotism replaces merit, and competence is often ignored.
This has turned politics from a platform for service into a struggle for personal enrichment.
5. Positive Developments
Despite all these challenges, there are signs of progress.
The introduction of technology in elections, such as BVAS, is improving transparency.
Youths are becoming more politically aware and active.
Social media has become a strong tool for exposing wrongs and demanding accountability.
These are positive steps that show Nigeria’s political institution can still evolve for the better.
In conclusion, Nigeria’s political system as an institution has great potential, but its performance remains below expectation.
For improvement, we must:
Strengthen our democratic institutions,
Promote accountability and transparency,
Encourage citizen participation,
And fight corruption at all levels.
If we do this, Nigeria’s political institution can finally deliver the leadership and progress that our people deserve.
©Nnamdi Cyriac Center For Research Documentary
