The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) has classified Nigeria in its latest global assessment as a fully authoritarian regime, emphasising that the country’s electoral process, protection of dissent and institutional checks on executive power have seriously deteriorated to levels that are inconsistent with democratic governance.
The report particularly noted that following transition from military to civilian government in 1999, democratic institutions in Nigeria have steadily weakened through executive dominance, corruption, patronage politics and insecurity.
It noted that since gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria being Africa’s most populous nation, has grappled with ethno-political cleavages, political turmoil marked by a bloody civil war, series of military coups, and secessionist and terrorist insurgencies.
The HRF report stated under its electoral competition index specifically stated that the political playing field is significantly tilted in favour of the ruling party, alleging that opposition parties face obstacles during campaigns, including restrictions on rallies, limited access to public facilities and state-owned media, excessive administrative charges and interference by security agencies.
The assessment of the HRF which published on its ‘Tyranny Tracker platform’, after evaluating countries across three pillars namely electoral competition, freedom of dissent, and institutional accountability, placed Nigeria in the fully authoritarian category.
The report stated that Nigeria which is a federal republic with 36 States and runs a presidential system of government fell short on all three, stressing that the country is ruled by a fully authoritarian regime.
It further stated that Nigeria has an estimated population of 242.4 million people, representing about 2.9 per cent of the world’s population, but its democratic institutions have weakened despite more than two decades of uninterrupted civilian rule since 1999.
The HRF report stated; “Since transitioning from military rule in 1999, Nigeria has experienced the longest period of elected civilian rule in its history, with seven consecutive elections and a peaceful transfer of power between a ruling and opposition party in 2015”.
The report also noted that successive administrations had increasingly consolidated authority across the executive, legislature and judiciary which have resulted in weakened institutional checks and widespread impunity.
According to the report; “Successive governments have consolidated control over all branches of government. With no meaningful checks to executive power, and an endemic culture of corruption, clientelism, and impunity, the country remains mired in a degenerating, multidimensional insecurity and maladministration crisis”.
The Foundation noted that President Bola Tinubu emerged from the 2023 flawed presidential election, citing legal disputes, protests, election-related violence, alleged irregularities, voter disenfranchisement and questions surrounding the integrity of the electoral process.
It stated; “The Head of State, Bola Tinubu, was declared the winner of the flawed 2023 election. Legal challenges, protests, and calls for annulment, violence that killed more than 100 people, the disenfranchisement of over one million people, and evidence of irregularities and manipulation discredited the integrity of the polls.
“The regime hinders opposition parties’ electoral campaign, engages in voting irregularities, enjoys significant and unfair campaign advantages, and undermines independent electoral oversight,” it stated.
It specifically cited incidents during the build-up to the 2023 elections involving attacks on opposition supporters by political thugs and vigilante groups in several states, as well as voting irregularities, delayed transmission of election results and concerns over the voter register.
The report particularly criticised appointments to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stressing that successive governments have weakened the electoral commission’s independence through politically controversial appointments and executive influence over its funding.
It also stated that journalists, civil society organisations, opposition politicians and ordinary citizens increasingly face intimidation, arrests, prosecutions and censorship for criticising government policies.
The report noted the arrest and detention of journalists during the August 2024 nationwide protests, prosecutions under Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act, actions against labour leaders and activists, and cases involving citizens sanctioned over social media posts critical of government officials.
The foundation further stated that authorities have also censored critical speech, including restrictions imposed by the National Broadcasting Commission on broadcasting Eedris Abdulkareem’s protest song Tell Your Papa.
It also stated that Nigerian institutions no longer function as effective checks on executive authority just as it specifically criticised the judiciary for dismissing and delaying election petitions and cases challenging executive actions.
The foundation also noted alleged persistent non-compliance with judgments delivered by the ECOWAS Court of Justice just as it questioned legislative oversight, and particularly cited the National Assembly’s approval of the March 2025 declaration of State of emergency rule in Rivers State through a voice vote that did not satisfy constitutional requirements.
The HRF report also alleged that security officials implicated in human rights violations have largely escaped prosecution, thus contributing to a “longstanding culture of impunity”.
The ICIR stated that Nigerian government has previously rejected international criticisms of its human rights record and electoral management.
