CITIZENS COMPASS—Nigeria prides itself on being the largest democracy in Africa. Our Constitution guarantees freedom of association, the right to political participation, and the liberty to hold dissenting views. But democracy is not judged by the mere existence of elections or political parties—it is measured by the protection of rights, fairness of the political process, and the absence of fear in civic engagement.
Unfortunately, the reality in Lagos State often paints a troubling picture. Time and again, there have been reports of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) resorting to intimidation, violence, and the use of thugs to suppress opposition voices. A shining example is the recent saga in Alimosho, where thugs allegedly loyal to Lagos APC stormed and disrupted a general meeting of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). What was supposed to be a peaceful gathering of citizens exercising their constitutional right to assemble became an atmosphere of fear, chaos, and disenfranchisement.
This raises a fundamental question: *Are we truly living under a democracy, or is Nigeria’s political space sliding into a disguised dictatorship* ? Democracy thrives on tolerance, debate, and competition of ideas. Dictatorship, on the other hand, survives on silencing dissent, monopolizing power, and suppressing opposition. When opposition parties cannot freely gather, when thuggery is weaponized to protect the ruling order, and when citizens are cowed into silence, then what we have is democracy only in name, not in practice.
If Lagos and indeed Nigeria must remain the beacon of democracy, there must be urgent reforms to protect opposition parties, strengthen electoral laws, and ensure that political competition is free from intimidation. Peaceful coexistence among parties is not an act of generosity from the ruling class; it is the foundation of democracy itself.
The Alimosho saga is not just about ADC or APC. It is about the soul of Nigeria’s democracy. If unchecked, such practices erode citizens’ faith in the system and push the nation closer to authoritarianism. A true democracy must give room for all voices, not just the voice of the ruling elite.
Adewole Ireti writes from Lagos
