The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has raised alarm over what it described as the “frightening collapse of responsible, transparent and accountable governance” in Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

This was disclosed in a Democracy Day statement signed by the Executive Director of CISLAC, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, on Thursday, as Nigeria marks 26 years of uninterrupted democratic governance.

SolaceBase reports that Rafsanjani said Nigeria’s democracy is regressing due to the weakening of democratic institutions, rising authoritarian tendencies, and a deliberate erosion of core democratic values.

He pointed to a growing failure of leadership, public distrust, corruption, electoral compromise, and shrinking civic space as signs of democratic backsliding.

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“Right now, the nation’s democratic institutions are at their weakest points and consistently failing the people,” Rafsanjani said.

He also added that, “Instead of building on the gains of the past, we are witnessing unaccountable leadership, weak institutions, violence, and the exclusion of citizens from governance.”

He criticised the state of Nigeria’s electoral system, which he said has become characterised by violence, voter suppression, vote-buying, and judicial interference, reducing elections to “mere exercises in futility.”

CISLAC also raised concerns over unchecked corruption at the state level, accusing many governors of operating without transparency, aided by compromised state assemblies.

The group called for the decentralisation of anti-corruption efforts and the empowerment of state institutions to function independently.

The statement also lamented the decline in the independence and efficiency of the judiciary, warning that political interference and conflicting court rulings continue to undermine the rule of law.

“A functional democracy depends on an impartial and independent judiciary. But what we see today is a system losing public confidence,” Rafsanjani said.

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On security, CISLAC criticised the federal government for failing to present a coherent strategy to address persistent insecurity, calling instead for a people-centred approach to civilian protection and conflict resolution.

Addressing economic challenges, CISLAC said the government’s handling of fuel subsidy removal has worsened poverty, noting that the promised savings have not resulted in any tangible relief for ordinary citizens.

“The so-called fuel subsidy savings have not translated into improved living conditions. Inflation is soaring, transport and food prices are unaffordable, and unemployment remains high,” the statement read.

CISLAC also condemned the clampdown on civil liberties, including the arrest and harassment of activists, journalists, and human rights organisations.

“The shrinking civic space is incompatible with any credible democratic system,” Rafsanjani said.

As Nigeria celebrates Democracy Day, CISLAC called for far-reaching reforms, stressing that democracy must go beyond elections to include good governance, rule of law, institutional strength, and active citizen participation.

“We call on the Nigerian government to end the ongoing repression, embrace people-oriented reforms, and restore the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic system,” the statement concluded.