A new assessment of democratic governance in Nigeria conducted by civil society organisation, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), has ranked 28 of the country's 36 states low in democratic performance. The report, released in Abuja, found that while democratic structures are present across the country, they are not translating into meaningful outcomes for citizens.
Comprehensive Evaluation of State-Level Democracy
Titled State of Democracy in Nigeria (DIN) Report 2025, the study is regarded as one of the most comprehensive evaluations of democratic practice at the state level, covering all 36 states using a data-driven framework. A key finding of the report is that no state attained a high level of democracy performance, while only six — Oyo, Yobe, Ekiti, Nasarawa, Ondo and Osun — fell within the moderate category.
In contrast, 28 states (77.8 per cent) were ranked in the low democracy band, cutting across all geopolitical zones, revealing the national spread of the concerns rather than a regional pattern. They include Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Borno, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, and Taraba in the North-East and North-West regions. Others are Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Benue, and Plateau in the North-Central zone, as well as Ogun and Lagos in the South-West. In the South-East, the states listed are Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia, and Ebonyi, while the South-South region includes Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom. At the bottom, Jigawa and Rivers were classified under weak performance.
Democracy Performance Index and Key Findings
The assessment is based on a Democracy Performance Index (DPI), which evaluates four core areas: electoral participation, political inclusion, institutional effectiveness, and civil liberties. Speaking at the launch in Abuja, Executive Director of KDI, Bukola Idowu, said the findings show that democracy in Nigeria is functioning procedurally but remains weak in substance. According to him, elections are conducted and institutions exist, but they do not consistently produce accountable governance, inclusive representation or protected civic freedoms.
He noted that the report goes beyond national-level analysis to examine how democracy is experienced at the state level, where citizens interact most directly with the government. The report identifies political inclusion as the weakest aspect of democracy nationwide. Women's representation in commissioner-level appointments averages 15.67 per cent — far below the 35 per cent benchmark — with 20 states recording less than 15 per cent. Representation of persons with disabilities remains negligible, while youth participation is also limited.
Institutional Performance and Local Government Challenges
Institutional performance was also found to be uneven, with many state institutions operating but facing constraints in transparency, oversight and accountability. At the local government level, the report highlights persistent weaknesses. Although all states have legal frameworks for council elections, at least 10 do not make those laws publicly accessible, limiting citizen engagement. It also found that many political parties are either inactive or excluded from grassroots elections, reinforcing dominance by a few parties.
Budget transparency showed mixed progress, as more than half of the states lack publicly available local government budget data. The report further points to declining voter turnout in recent elections, despite high collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), suggesting erosion of public trust rather than logistical challenges.
Call for Reform
KDI stressed that the report is not intended to name and shame states but to provide a diagnostic tool for reform. It urged policymakers, electoral bodies, civil society and citizens to use the findings to strengthen institutions, promote inclusion and rebuild confidence in democratic processes.
