Nigeria’s Democracy Under Pressure, Political Intolerance Rising — Ex-Kogi PDP Candidate

A former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State, Musa Wada, has warned that Nigeria’s democracy is facing serious pressure amid what he described as growing political intolerance and attacks on democratic institutions.

Wada, who contested the 2019 governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party and is now a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, raised the concern in a post shared on his Facebook page.

According to him, recent developments in the country show increasing threats to the rule of law and democratic values.

“We are living in a time when hope itself feels under siege,” he wrote.

“Each day we wake up to yet another assault on our democratic institutions, another setback to the rule of law, and another blow to the basic standards of decency that should guide any civilized society.”

The former PDP candidate noted that incidents that once appeared unimaginable in the country are gradually becoming common occurrences.

“Every sunrise seems to bring news of something we once believed could never happen in our country,” he added. “The unthinkable has slowly become the ordinary.”

Wada also accused those in positions of authority of fueling division among citizens instead of promoting unity.

“Day after day, those in positions of power attempt to divide us. They tell us to fear one another instead of standing together,” he said.

“They encourage suspicion instead of unity and hostility instead of compassion.”

He warned that such narratives could weaken the nation’s democratic foundation if allowed to persist.

“They try to convince us that some Nigerians count more than others, that some voices matter while others should remain silent, and that some citizens simply do not matter at all. This dangerous narrative threatens the very foundation of our democracy,” he stated.

The ADC chieftain further lamented what he described as the growing normalization of corruption and intolerance in public life.

“We now witness greed and bigotry being openly celebrated. Bullying is paraded as leadership. Ignorance is rewarded, dishonesty is defended, and cruelty is excused as political strategy,” he said.

According to him, corruption has become so entrenched that integrity is increasingly viewed as weakness.

“Every single day, the forces of selfishness and corruption seem to harvest rewards while ordinary people continue to bear the burden,” he added.

Despite the challenges, Wada urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the country’s democratic future.

“It is hard to believe in justice when injustice appears to dominate the day. But history reminds us that no nation rises without citizens who refuse to surrender their hope,” he said.

“The future of Nigeria will not be written by fear, greed, or corruption. It will be written by those courageous enough to stand up, speak out, and demand a country where justice, dignity, and equality truly belong to all.”