Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has decried the worsening state of democracy in Nigeria. According to Mr Obi, democracy does not serve the needs of Nigerians any longer.

In a statement following his participation in the 2025 International Conference organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra on Wednesday, Mr Obi alleged that democracy in Nigeria had become a process of state capture deployed by politicians to serve their personal and family interests.

“Nigeria is a typical example of where democracy is dying because it no longer serves the needs of the people and is no longer accountable to them,” Mr Obi said. “In Nigeria, democracy has become a process of elite state capture, granting access to public resources for personal and family interests.”

Mr Obi pointed out that democracy dies when it stops being accountable to the people and when it no longer prioritises their needs.

According to him, democracy is fundamentally about accountability, prioritising service to the people while ensuring security, providing education and healthcare and lifting people out of poverty.

Mr Obi urged Nigerians to take elections and democracy seriously by voting competent, committed and compassionate people into power.

“To reverse this situation, Nigerians must take democracy and elections seriously by ensuring that only people with competence, capacity, character, compassion, and commitment to service are elected,” the former Anambra governor said.