The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has issued a stark warning about the deteriorating state of Nigeria's democracy, pointing to alarming patterns of opposition collapse ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Coordinated Assault on Political Pluralism
During a recent State of the Nation press conference, CHRICED Executive Director Dr. Ibrahim Zikirullahi revealed that the organization views the wave of defections by opposition governors and lawmakers to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a calculated attack on Nigeria's democratic foundations.
Zikirullahi described this trend as a coordinated assault that represents a fundamental betrayal of the mandate given by voters to their elected representatives. The organization expressed particular concern about widespread allegations that financial inducements have influenced some of these defections, signaling complicity rather than political neutrality.
Democracy cannot thrive in an atmosphere where corruption is normalized, Zikirullahi emphasized, highlighting the dangerous precedent being set for Nigeria's political future.
Deepening Corruption Concerns
CHRICED raised additional alarms about corruption at the highest levels of government. The organization questioned the silence of National Assembly leadership regarding reports that lawmakers must pay between N1 million and N3 million to present motions or bills in the legislative chamber.
The situation appears even more troubling following Senator Ali Ndume's recent claim that aides in the Presidential Villa demand bribes before granting access to President Bola Tinubu. These developments, according to CHRICED, seriously undermine transparency and accountability in government operations.
Economic Crisis and Mounting Debts
The organization strongly criticized the federal government's economic strategy, describing it as an unsustainable borrow-and-spend approach that has worsened poverty despite official claims of meeting 2025 Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) targets.
Zikirullahi argued that Nigeria's economic challenges require strategic investments in job creation, local industries, and youth empowerment rather than accumulating more debt that mortgages the future of unborn generations.
Despite government statistics showing Naira stabilization and inflation dropping to 18.02 percent, CHRICED noted that these macroeconomic indicators have brought little relief to ordinary Nigerians. Millions continue to struggle with deepening poverty, skyrocketing food prices, and economic despair.
The removal of fuel subsidies, increased electricity tariffs, and multiple layers of taxation have pushed countless families to the brink of survival, according to the organization's assessment.
Security and Healthcare Crises
On the security front, CHRICED observed that Nigerians now live under constant threat from bandits, kidnappers, and terrorists. The recent abduction of six directors from the Ministry of Defence in Kogi State serves as stark evidence of the state's inability to guarantee citizen safety.
The health sector also faces severe challenges, with only 36 percent of the 2024 capital allocation for health released despite the ongoing doctors' strike and critical gaps in healthcare access.
While acknowledging CHRICED's achievements in supporting implementation of the Free Maternal and Child Healthcare Law in Kano, the organization reiterated its demand for justice for indigenous Federal Capital Territory communities who have suffered decades of dispossession.
Zikirullahi concluded by urging Nigerians, civil society actors, journalists, traditional rulers, and religious leaders to resist political apathy and demand greater accountability from those in power, emphasizing that the survival of Nigeria's democracy depends on active citizen engagement.
