As Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 general elections, concerns over the health of its democracy, the credibility of political institutions, and the worsening security situation continue to dominate national discourse. Those issues took centre stage on Majalisah, hosted by Rimamnde Shawulu, in a wide-ranging interview with former House of Representatives member and political commentator Rt. Hon. Abubakar Chika Adamu.
The interview opened with recent political developments surrounding the registration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and court decisions affecting the party’s participation in the electoral process. Chika Adamu argued that the judiciary has become one of the major sources of uncertainty in Nigerian politics, describing the reversal of an earlier court order by the same Federal High Court as “very unprecedented in the legal system in Nigeria.”
“The political space in Nigeria every day is shrinking,” he said. “People who don’t believe in democratic doctrine… are causing all the confusion in the political space.”
One of the interview’s strongest moments came when Chika Adamu sharply criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s democratic credentials. In one of his most controversial remarks, he declared, “Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a Democrat in the morning and in the night he’s a dictator.” He argued that recent political developments have contradicted the President’s long-standing image as a pro-democracy figure.
Host Rimamnde Shawulu challenged that assertion directly, reminding the guest that he had once supported Tinubu’s political camp during the contest for the Speakership of the 8th National Assembly. Chika Adamu responded by recounting his interactions with Tinubu after the election of former Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila. According to him, those experiences ultimately convinced him not to support Tinubu’s presidential bid in 2023, saying simply, “I did not support his coming.”
The discussion then shifted to Nigeria’s political parties and the conduct of their primaries. Chika Adamu maintained that internal democracy remains weak across the political spectrum, insisting that the problem is not confined to any single party.
“Almost all the parties,” he observed, “the primaries were not conducted fairly and credibly.”
That assessment formed part of a broader argument that Nigeria’s democratic institutions require significant reforms before the next election cycle.
Security occupied a substantial portion of the conversation. Chika Adamu painted a bleak picture of conditions in parts of Northern Nigeria, particularly in Niger State, where he said many rural communities remain unsafe because of bandit attacks.
“I cannot drive alone to my village,” he disclosed, explaining that he had not spent a night there in nearly five years because of insecurity.
He also raised concerns about reports linking criminal activity to illegal mining operations in parts of Niger State, suggesting that local communities may have been deliberately displaced to create easier access to mineral resources. While acknowledging that these were concerns shared with him by residents, he called for stronger government action to investigate the situation.
Throughout the interview, Shawulu repeatedly questioned whether such a pessimistic assessment risked discouraging political participation. Chika Adamu rejected that suggestion, insisting that citizens must become even more involved in defending democracy.
“The power of the people is more powerful than the people in power,” he argued, calling for sustained civic engagement and democratic accountability rather than political resignation.
Asked what the President should do immediately to address insecurity, Chika Adamu urged direct engagement with affected communities rather than relying solely on official briefings.
“You can only build confidence in people when you relate to the people… hear from them. That’s when you make a judgment,” he said.
The interview concluded with reflections on Nigeria’s political future. While expressing concern about the credibility of future elections, Chika Adamu nevertheless encouraged Nigerians to continue participating in democratic processes and to demand stronger institutions capable of delivering transparent elections.
By challenging many of the guest’s claims while allowing him to explain his reasoning, Majalisah delivered a conversation that went beyond partisan talking points. The interview underscored that, regardless of political affiliation, the debates over electoral reform, security, judicial independence and democratic accountability will remain central to Nigeria’s journey toward 2027.
