Kleptocracy In Disguise: How Nigeria’s Democracy Has Become A Goldmine For The Few
By JULIET EKANEM
FROM its parades of election banners to the pomp of state inaugurals, Nigeria presents itself as a democracy. Yet peel back the layers, and what emerges is something far darker: a kleptocracy built on the laws of appearance, not justice.
Defining the Kleptocracy
A true democracy is one in which power both originates from, and is accountable to, the people—anchored in free elections, civil rights, rule of law. A kleptocracy, by contrast, is a system where the powerful steal from the people, cloaked in legality, enriched by impunity. And for many Nigerians, the distinction between the two has become all too faint.
Rigged Primaries: The Coronation, Not the Contest
One striking feature of Nigeria’s political reality is how party primaries often become foregone conclusions. Incumbent governors or presidents “select” their successors, almost as though democratic competition is a ritual rather than a process. Delegates, party members, and ordinary party structures—who should genuinely choose—are sidelined. In many major parties, nomination fees alone create enormous barriers to entry—turning politics into an arena accessible mostly to those deep-pocketed or well-connected.
The Cost of Participation and the Price of Power
Nomination forms selling for huge sums (running into millions of naira) are a recurring issue. These costs limit genuine competition, excluding average citizens. With political campaigns heavily financed by reserves of state or federal allocations, or access to patronage networks, the competitive field is uneven from the start. The oligarchy of money shadows every election.
The Security Vote: A Slush Fund with No Oversight
“Security Vote” allocations given to governors and similarly to the presidency are a glaring example of opaque state resources. These funds—often justified as necessary for emergent security challenges—tend to lack auditing, proper reporting, or oversight. They become tools for accumulating personal wealth rather than responding to citizen needs.
Public Salaries vs. Private Trappings
Many public officials draw modest government salaries, yet they maintain lifestyles — multiple homes, fleets of cars, holdings abroad — that far exceed what those salaries could buy. Where do the funds come from? Often from inflated contracts, ghost services, kickbacks, or leveraging public office for private enrichment. In a true democracy, institutional checks would catch these excesses. In today’s Nigeria, such mechanisms are weak or compromised.
Elections That Serve The Few
Instances of electoral fraud—ballot-box stuffing, fake voter cards, intimidation, missing ballot boxes—are not anomalies. They are part of an entrenched system. Political power in Nigeria tends to stay with those who can finance campaigns, mobilize loyal delegates, or control party machinery, rather than those who win genuine public support.
Why This Matters: Costs to Society
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Eroded trust: Citizens become cynical when democracy looks like a fixed game.
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Inequality amplifies: Public resources flow to private pockets. Public services suffer.
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Policy distortions: Governments serve donors and power centers, not the broader public—see weak healthcare, infrastructure, and education.
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Security risks: When people feel excluded or believe corruption is unchecked, tensions rise. Some disenchantment turns to violence or protest.
What Must Change
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Transparency and auditability: Sunshine laws demanding disclosure of political finance, budgets like security votes, and audit reports.
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Regulation of party primaries and fees: Nomination fees should be reasonable; party structures must be strengthened so that ordinary members have real say.
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Strengthening institutions: Independent electoral commissions, anti-corruption agencies, courts that can act without fear or favor.
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Civic education and engagement: Citizens need to understand their rights, demand accountability, vote not just out of patronage, but on platforms.
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Media and civil society vigilance: Exposure of corruption, public debates, reporting; those in public eye should be held to account.
Conclusion
Nigeria stands at an inflection point. The forms of democracy are visibly present—the ballot boxes, the constitution, the party leaders—but the substance is hollowed out by kleptocratic practices. If democracy is to mean anything real here, it must return money and power to the people, not remain a theater for the rich and connected.
In the end, the question is: Do we want Nigeria to remain a kleptocracy wearing the mask of democracy—or can we reclaim the mask and make democracy real again?
