The trajectory of Nigeria’s democratic development remains fraught with contradictions. While regular elections may signal democratic continuity, the persistent entanglement of electoral processes with money, violence, and state-sanctioned repression undermines the substance of democratic governance. The 2015 presidential election serves as a critical juncture in this narrative, revealing the extent to which institutional legitimacy can be compromised when democratic processes are subordinated to power politics and strategic violence. One of the most controversial episodes preceding...

Today, I write with great joy and admiration to wish you, Prof. Chris Chinwe Ulasi, a delighted 70th birthday. It is a glorious milestone, and my family and I are honored to join friends and colleagues in celebrating this remarkable occasion with you here in Cancun, Mexico. Since I first met you in 2005 at Texas Southern University (TSU), Houston, Texas, you have consistently demonstrated that you are a true Nwannedinamba—a brother from Anambra State,...

Before the last Nigerian presidential election win of May 29, 2023, I wrote in this same forum that Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu had the capacity and democratic pedigree to lead Nigeria. That view was grounded in his role in Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggles, especially during the military regime of General Sani Abacha. Today, I appeal to President Tinubu to reaffirm those values by helping to resolve the protracted case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu—not by force, but...