A civil advocacy organisation, Nigeria Unite, has petitioned the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, expressing deep concern over what it describes as Nigeria’s worsening democratic climate.
In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Sunday Daniel, and addressed to the U.S. House of Representatives, the European Commission, and the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the group warned that Nigeria’s political trajectory increasingly resembles the instability spreading across the Sahel region.
According to the petition, titled “Imminent Collapse of Democracy in the Sahel Region (West Africa)”, key democratic institutions in Nigeria are weakening, requiring urgent international attention. Daniel urged global partners to take proactive steps in safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy through diplomatic engagement, election monitoring, and support for civic organisations.
The group argued that recent political developments particularly widespread defections of politicians, including governors and lawmakers, to the ruling APC pose a threat to political plurality, pushing Nigeria toward a de facto one-party system ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Nigeria Unite also drew parallels with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, noting that democratic breakdowns in these countries have already destabilised West Africa, and a similar crisis in Nigeria would carry even more severe regional implications.
The petition highlighted internal turmoil within opposition parties such as the PDP, LP, and ADC, citing suspended national officers and leadership rifts that have weakened their capacity to provide credible alternatives. These issues, it warned, risk reducing future elections to symbolic exercises with predetermined outcomes.
The group further criticised what it described as the ruling party’s disproportionate access to state resources, arguing that the imbalance undermines fair political competition. It also raised alarms about shrinking civic space and increasing repression of dissenting voices.
“As Nigeria’s political environment grows more oppressive, the silencing of opposition voices becomes more apparent,” the petition stated, warning that sustained pressure on democratic structures could spark public unrest.
Daniel added that instability in a nation of over 250 million people would have far-reaching consequences across Africa, potentially increasing irregular migration to Europe and the United States, and worsening the humanitarian and security situation in the Sahel.
Nigeria Unite called on international allies to strengthen their support for Nigeria’s democratic processes and civil society groups, insisting that sustained engagement is vital to prevent further democratic decline.
