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...