A new report by the Kimpact Development Initiative has found that not a single Nigerian state meets the threshold for high democratic performance, with only six states reaching a moderate rating, 28 falling into a low performance category, and Jigawa and Rivers states rated the weakest overall in a comprehensive state-by-state assessment using a Democracy Performance Index.
The State of Democracy in Nigeria Report 2025, unveiled in Abuja, assessed all 36 states through citizen feedback, institutional reviews, and official data from INEC, state assemblies, courts, budgets, and civil society records. Its findings revealed that while elections are held and democratic institutions formally exist, many states continue to struggle with transparency, responsiveness, and effective governance.
The six states rated at moderate performance were Oyo, Yobe, Ekiti, Nasarawa, Ondo, and Osun. The report identified political inclusion as Nigeria’s weakest democratic pillar, noting that no state achieved even moderate representation for women, youths, and persons with disabilities.
Keynote speaker Professor Adetunji Ogunyemi of Obafemi Awolowo University said democracy must be defined and measured beyond political rhetoric, cautioning that infrastructure delivery and economic growth were not exclusive measures of democratic governance and could be achieved by authoritarian systems. He said the real gains of democracy lay in the protection of citizens’ rights, free choice of leaders, the rule of law, and accountable institutions.
Kimpact Executive Director Bukola Idowu said the findings should trigger urgent institutional reforms, widening of civic space, and a genuine reconnection of governance with the needs of citizens.
