By Ussiju Medaner
This past week has once again unfolded like a stage play in Nigeria’s ever-dramatic political theater. From press conferences to lawsuits, from coalition chatter to internal party bickering, it is as though every actor in our democracy has been given a script to perform. Some deliver their lines with conviction, others with hesitation, and yet others with contradictions so glaring that even the least attentive citizens cannot fail to notice.
The freedom of speech that democracy guarantees has become both a blessing and a curse — a blessing because citizens and politicians alike speak without fear, and a curse because much of what is spoken is propaganda, half-truths, and calculated diversions. Yet, within the noise, there are important lessons to extract if we are sincere about the future of our democracy.
The People’s Democratic Party, once the dominant political platform in Nigeria, continues to wrestle with the consequences of its past misjudgments. Its admission, albeit indirectly, that zoning the presidential ticket to the North in 2019 and 2023 under the overwhelming influence of Atiku Abubakar was a mistake is telling. It exposes the fragility of a party that once prided itself on rotation, balance, and inclusiveness. The PDP may hope to correct itself by zoning southward now, but Nigerians are asking whether it is a correction born out of principle or simply out of desperation. Political parties are not judged only by the decisions they take in the present, but by the integrity and foresight they demonstrate consistently. The party has an opportunity to learn, but learning requires sacrifice — and sacrifice in politics means letting go of the dominance of individuals for the sake of collective survival.
The coalition experiment that has been whispered and promoted over the past months, designed to bring together political figures from different backgrounds, continues to stumble. Rather than presenting Nigerians with a coherent alternative, it projects contradictions, loud pronouncements without clear evidence, and rivalries that spill into the open too easily. One cannot build a lasting coalition on the fragile foundation of ambition alone. A coalition must be welded together by values, by clear programs, and by mutual respect. Nigerians will not be swayed by mere noise about defeating the ruling party. We have heard such songs before; what the people want now is a plan for security, jobs, education, infrastructure, and the economy. If the coalition cannot produce a single harmonized policy framework that answers these questions, then it will be remembered as another political theater troupe that rehearsed but never performed.
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s candidate in 2023 and now a central figure in the coalition discussions, remains in the news. Reports of his lawsuit against activist Deji Adeyanju raised eyebrows because Obi has often projected himself as the calm, almost unbothered participant in Nigeria’s rough politics. In a space where insults, propaganda, and deliberate misinformation flow daily, Obi’s decision to sue appears both unusual and contradictory. For years, his online followers — the “Obidients” — have dominated debates with energy, but also with a reputation for aggression toward dissenting voices. It is ironic to defend sharp criticisms when directed at opponents but seek legal redress when directed at oneself. Of course, Obi is within his rights, but leadership is not only about personal defense; it is about setting standards of tolerance and modeling behavior for one’s supporters. The broader lesson is that Nigeria’s political culture must rise above the mob mentality of abuse and learn to accommodate differences without descending into slander.
Obi’s statement about unfinished business with the Labour Party also deserves reflection. A politician’s unfinished business with a party ought to be about institution-building, conflict resolution, and strengthening democratic processes. But the picture emerging is one of control — a determination to shape the party into his personal project. This is already costing the party dearly, with the Independent National Electoral Commission refusing to recognize its candidates in the upcoming FCT Area Council elections due to unresolved disputes. If this pattern continues, Labour Party risks becoming a casualty of personality politics, where the survival of the party depends on the fortunes of a single man. The danger is not unique to Labour. Most of Nigeria’s parties suffer the same fate — the substitution of individual ambition for institutional strength. Unless Nigerian parties learn to stand independently of their flag bearers, democracy will remain fragile.
The contradictions are not limited to Obi. Take the case of Nasir El-Rufai, who only three years ago was one of the most vocal advocates for ending petroleum subsidy. As a governor, he spoke with conviction about how subsidy was draining national resources and threatening future stability. Today, as he positions himself within the coalition, he appears opposed to similar reforms. Nigerians are right to ask: what changed? If subsidy removal was good policy then, why is it bad policy now? Is it the policy itself that has changed, or the political interest of those speaking? This kind of inconsistency erodes public trust. Nigerians do not expect politicians to be perfect, but they expect them to be consistent, or at least honest enough to admit when their convictions have evolved and why. Without that, politics becomes an endless cycle of contradictions where yesterday’s truth is today’s lie.
This is the heart of our political instability: the absence of ideology and the dominance of personalities. Parties are formed not around ideas but around individuals. Coalitions are built not on programs but on temporary convenience. Manifestos are written not as serious contracts with the people but as campaign documents to be forgotten after elections. Citizens, weary of betrayal, then retreat into cynicism, leaving the field even more open for politicians to play games unchecked. This vicious cycle must be broken if democracy is to work for the people rather than for the few.
So what can be done? First, Nigeria urgently needs stronger internal party democracy. Parties must operate by constitutions that are respected, not ignored. Zoning agreements, primaries, and candidate selections must be open and transparent, not manipulated by money or “godfathers.” Electoral reforms should empower the Independent National Electoral Commission to enforce party constitutions and sanction violations, so that parties cannot simply rewrite rules at will.
Second, parties must invest in ideology and policy. A political party should not be an empty vessel waiting to be filled by whoever has the resources to contest. Each party must define its values clearly: what it stands for in education, in security, in economic policy, in social justice. Without this, parties become indistinguishable, and politics reduces to who can shout louder or spend more. Nigerians must begin to demand not just manifestos but detailed policy roadmaps with timelines and measurable goals.
Third, party financing must be addressed. As long as parties depend entirely on a few wealthy individuals, those individuals will continue to control them. Public funding of parties, tied to performance and transparency, may help reduce the stranglehold of godfathers. Citizens too must play their part by contributing small donations to parties that truly represent their interests, so that ownership of political platforms shifts from individuals to the collective.
Fourth, civic education is essential. Citizens must be taught that democracy is not a spectator sport. It is not enough to shout on social media; Nigerians must engage their local party branches, attend meetings, ask questions, and hold leaders accountable. The culture of waiting until election season to complain must change into a culture of continuous engagement.
Finally, politicians themselves must embrace humility. No coalition, no party, and no leader is the messiah Nigeria awaits. The idea that one man or one party will single-handedly save Nigeria is part of our political problem. Nations are built through collective effort, long-term vision, and institutional resilience. Politicians must learn to share credit, to admit mistakes, and to build systems that will outlive them. That is how legacies are formed.
This week’s events, as noisy and contradictory as they appear, provide us with a mirror. They show us what we must change if we are serious about moving forward. If parties can reform themselves, if coalitions can be built on ideas rather than ambition, if leaders can be consistent and citizens can be vigilant, then our democracy will grow stronger. But if we continue to normalize hypocrisy, personalize institutions, and substitute propaganda for policy, then weeks like this will keep repeating, each one a reminder of the fragility of our politics. The choice is ours.
GOD BLESS THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!
Professor Medaner is reachable via: info@medaner.com | justme4justice@yahoo.com
