From Democracy to Dictatorship: Nigeria’s Descent into Autocracy Since 2015
By George Omagbemi Sylvester

Since the All Progressives Congress (APC) took over Nigeria’s leadership in 2015, the country has not only witnessed a decline in democratic values but has steadily descended into a dangerous state of autocracy. What began as a hopeful transition of power soon turned into a nightmare marked by economic collapse, repression of civil liberties, electoral manipulation, and widespread insecurity. This is not a democracy. This is a hijacked republic.

A Promise Betrayed

When President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC were elected in 2015, they rode a wave of public discontent with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Nigerians yearned for transparency, security, and economic reform. But what they got instead was a regime that centralized power, weakened democratic institutions, and silenced dissent with an iron grip.

Buhari’s government—backed by APC party loyalists—pursued an agenda that systematically undermined democracy. Between 2015 and 2023, the government was notorious for disobeying court orders, arresting journalists, intimidating judges, and deploying security agencies to suppress peaceful protests. From the illegal detention of activists like Omoyele Sowore to the bloody repression of the #EndSARS protests, the Buhari era mirrored a military dictatorship cloaked in civilian garb.

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The Death of Accountability

Under APC rule, checks and balances became a joke. Institutions that should serve as watchdogs—like the National Assembly and the judiciary—were reduced to rubber stamps. The rule of law was trampled underfoot with alarming regularity. Court rulings, including those from the ECOWAS Court of Justice, were routinely ignored by the presidency and security agencies.

Corruption, the very evil Buhari promised to fight, flourished under his watch. Nigeria dropped significantly on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, ranking 154 out of 180 countries in 2021. Multi-billion-naira scandals involving public funds—like the NNPC missing billions, the arms procurement fraud, and the Pandora Papers revelations—were either brushed aside or buried under a mountain of government propaganda.

Electoral Fraud Disguised as Elections
Perhaps the most disturbing assault on democracy under APC has been the bastardization of the electoral process. The 2019 and 2023 general elections were marred by voter suppression, ballot box snatching, intimidation of voters, and open partisanship by security agencies. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), once respected, lost its credibility as electoral umpire.

The 2023 presidential election is a glaring example. Despite promises of electronic transmission of results and transparency, INEC inexplicably abandoned its BVAS and IREV technologies midway through result collation. International observers including the European Union and the National Democratic Institute condemned the elections as lacking transparency, credibility, and fairness.

What kind of democracy exists when the votes of the people are disregarded, and leaders are imposed against the will of the majority?

Suppression of the Press and Civil Society
Freedom of speech and the press, hallmarks of any functioning democracy, have suffered grave attacks since 2015. Journalists were harassed, media houses fined or shut down, and online platforms were targeted. In 2021, the Nigerian government banned Twitter for over seven months simply because citizens used it to criticize the president. This action not only violated the constitution but exposed the government’s deep authoritarian impulse.

Civil society groups and human rights organizations became targets of smear campaigns and regulatory clampdowns. The Buhari regime and its successors sought to monitor, regulate, and restrict non-governmental organizations through draconian laws and policies.

An Economy in Ruins
A thriving economy supports a stable democracy. But under APC rule, Nigeria’s economy collapsed. The country slipped into two recessions in five years, inflation soared, and the naira depreciated to record lows. Insecurity, mismanagement, and policy inconsistencies drove away investors. Unemployment skyrocketed to over 33%, and poverty rose so dramatically that Nigeria became the world’s “poverty capital,” surpassing India.

Fuel subsidy mismanagement, crude oil theft, forex fraud, and mounting debt (now over $110 billion) are all legacies of APC’s gross misgovernance. How can democracy thrive in the face of economic asphyxiation?

Insecurity as a Political Tool
Under APC governance, Nigeria became a killing field. Boko Haram insurgents, Fulani herdsmen, bandits, and unknown gunmen unleashed terror across the nation. From Kaduna to Zamfara, from Plateau to Borno, the blood of innocent Nigerians flowed freely. Rather than confront the crisis with transparency and competence, the government played politics with the lives of its citizens.

Security agencies were often accused of ethnic bias, selective intervention, and extrajudicial killings. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch documented numerous human rights violations by state actors. Thousands died, while millions were displaced—turning Nigeria into a humanitarian disaster zone.

A Stolen Republic
Make no mistake: Nigeria today is not a democracy. It is an autocratic state run by a cartel of politicians who wield power without accountability, enforce obedience through fear, and manipulate institutions to serve personal interests. Elections are rigged rituals. Courts are co-opted. The National Assembly is compromised. And the voices of the people are ignored.

This is not what democracy looks like. This is a betrayal of the Nigerian people.

It is time for Nigerians—home and abroad—to wake up to the brutal truth: our republic has been stolen. Our votes no longer count. Our leaders no longer listen. Our institutions no longer protect us.

The first step to reclaiming our democracy is to recognize its absence. The second is to mobilize civic resistance, strengthen independent media, support judicial independence, and rebuild credible opposition. The Nigerian people must demand electoral reform, transparency, and accountability with louder voices and bolder actions.

If we do nothing, the autocrats will tighten their grip further, and democracy will become a relic of the past. But if we rise, if we organize, and if we persist, we can reclaim the soul of our nation from those who have hijacked it.

“Armed and Organised”: Nigerians React to Shocking CCTV Footage of Lekki Car Robbery

LAGOS, NIGERIA — Outrage and alarm have erupted across social media following the emergence of a CCTV recording showing armed men vandalising and stripping vehicles within a residential estate reportedly located in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

The footage, dated March 7, 2025, surfaced on Sunday via a Facebook post by Tope Fasua, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu. Fasua, who described the suspects as “smart-looking guys armed to the teeth,” said the video was obtained directly from one of the victims of the robbery.

“This video I got from a victim of very organised crime. These are armed robbers who also stripped cars somewhere in Lekki 1. They were caught on CCTV but are probably still at large. I hope they are apprehended. Watch their every movement,” Fasua wrote.

In the video, the suspects are seen operating in a calm and coordinated manner—dismantling parts of high-end vehicles without any interference. One moment in the footage shows them adjusting the CCTV angle, fuelling widespread speculation of possible insider involvement.

Public Reactions: “Where Is the Security?”

The viral post triggered a flood of reactions from concerned Nigerians, many of whom questioned estate security protocols, the efficacy of law enforcement, and the lack of forensic investigation.

“This is almost a month since the incident. Why hasn’t there been any public update or arrest?” wrote Dapo Kale, who advocated for the Nigeria Police Force to adopt proper crime scene processing techniques, including fingerprint collection and biometric scanning through the NIN and BVN databases.

Another commenter, Tunde Alabi, echoed suspicions of insider collaboration, stating, “The way they avoided the cameras and shifted them upward—this was clearly premeditated. Where were the security guards?”

“Follow the Car Parts Market”

Some commenters, like Wisdom E. Nwansi, focused on the demand chain for stolen parts: “Who is buying these parts? If there’s no black market, there’s no incentive. Arrest the buyers and the supply chain collapses.”

Bimbo Olarinde shared a grim assessment of the situation, claiming this was not an isolated case. “This is the organised crime going on in Lekki Phase 1 now. I’ve reported incidents like this to the Maroko Police. They target Toyota Land Cruisers and Lexus SUVs, usually around 4:30 a.m., when security guards are likely to be asleep.”

Calls for Better Security and Forensics

Security-conscious commenters called for a complete overhaul of how estates secure lives and property.

“All these luxury estates need more than gatekeepers,” wrote Nnaemeka Onyegbule. “They must invest in technology—entry and exit tracking, motion sensors, sound alarms, and fully functional CCTV systems with backups. The police too must begin to prioritise forensic investigation.”

Francis Denedo raised concern over the robbers’ apparent training and confidence. “These men used pistols and operated with precision. This is not your average robbery. This was professional. The guards must be thoroughly questioned.”

Authorities Yet to Respond

As of press time, there has been no official statement from the Lagos State Police Command regarding the CCTV footage or any active investigation into the robbery.

Security experts warn that the lack of publicised arrests or deterrents could embolden similar attacks, especially in affluent residential zones where criminal syndicates view car part theft as low-risk, high-reward.

With pressure mounting from both the public and high-ranking officials, attention is now firmly on the authorities to act—before the next attack is caught on camera.

Ebuka Obi Distances Himself from Ijele’s Continued Detention, Cites Separate Criminal Case

LAGOS, NIGERIA — The founder of Zion Prayer Movement Outreach, Evangelist Ebuka Obi, has officially denied allegations that he is responsible for the continued detention of controversial blogger Chizorom Ofoegbu, popularly known as “Ijele Speaks.”

Obi, through his media and legal representatives, addressed a press conference in Lagos on Saturday, firmly rejecting claims that the church or its spiritual leader played any role in obstructing Ofoegbu’s release after he was granted bail in mid-2024.

The blogger was arrested following a petition filed by Obi at the Federal High Court in Lagos, citing alleged threats to his life. While the court granted bail on June 14, 2024, the church explained that Ofoegbu initially failed to meet the conditions, prompting a formal application to vary the bail terms, which was subsequently approved.

Speaking on behalf of the church, Media and Public Relations Consultant Mr. Dan Aibangbe stated, “Our legal team has verified that Ofoegbu eventually met the revised bail conditions. As far as we are aware, there was no legal barrier to his release in the matter involving Evangelist Obi.”

However, at the resumption of proceedings on October 21, 2024, Ofoegbu’s legal counsel informed the court that the defendant remained in custody and had not been presented by prison authorities. Presiding judge, Justice Akintayo Aluko, subsequently requested clarification from the prosecution.

In response, prosecutors revealed that Ofoegbu was being held on the basis of an entirely separate criminal case, involving charges of defamation and cyberstalking brought against him by another religious figure, Victor Onukaogu, founder of Living Christ Mission, also known as Daddy Hezekiah. That matter is currently before a High Court in Awka, Anambra State.

“The current incarceration of Mr. Ofoegbu is unrelated to the complaint filed by Evangelist Obi,” the prosecutor informed the court.

Mr. Aibangbe emphasized that Evangelist Obi had merely acted within his constitutional rights by reporting a perceived threat to law enforcement. He stressed that the church had never opposed bail at any stage, nor was it involved in the administration of correctional custody.

“Our position is clear: this is not a matter of personal vendetta. Evangelist Obi has no authority over prison processes and has not influenced Mr. Ofoegbu’s continued detention,” Aibangbe said.

He added that the media narrative suggesting otherwise was “deliberate misinformation” and warned that the church is considering legal action against platforms and individuals disseminating false information.

“We urge the public to rely on verified court records and facts, not sensationalized accounts that undermine the integrity of judicial proceedings,” Aibangbe concluded.

The case between Evangelist Obi and Ofoegbu has been adjourned to October 21 and 22, 2024. Meanwhile, Ofoegbu’s fate regarding the separate allegations in Anambra remains subject to that court’s jurisdiction.