The Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA) is set to re-examine the concept of democracy in the context of on-going worldwide interrogation of the concept. The re-engagement is planned to be an online affair on October 30th, 2025.
The NPSA is unleashing a three-man resource pack of leading Nigerian political scientists for the conceptual engagement and they are:
- Dr. Ogban Ogban-Iyam formerly of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka
- Prof. Femi Mimiko of Obafemi Awolowo University
- Prof. Pam Dung Sha of the University of Jos
According to NPSA president, Prof Hassan Saliu, the event aims to re-examine the concept of democracy; explore the challenges and opportunities of democracy in Nigeria and elsewhere and foster a nuanced understanding of democracy and/or absence of it in the Nigerian context.
The NPSA Exco is expected to convey other details about the programme in due course.
Backgrounding the event, NPSA president wrote as follows: Democracy has emerged as a ubiquitous concept, with many nations striving to claim adherence to its principles. Africa is no exception, with the liberal variant of democracy gaining traction on the continent. However, the conceptualisation and operationalisation of democracy have raised several concerns, prompting a re-evaluation of its meaning and implementation”
Prof Saliu drew attention to the diversity of perspectives on Liberal Democracy in Africa, viz:
(1) Fatalistic View: This perspective posits that what passes for democracy in Africa is far from being genuinely democratic. It questions the existence of democracy anywhere, suggesting that the concept is a facade.
(2) Contextual View: This perspective, inspired by Julius Nyerere’s words, acknowledges that democracy has variants and cannot be replicated uniformly across different environmental contexts. It emphasises the need for adaptability and contextual understanding.
(3) Ideological View: This perspective recognises the existence of democracy but argues that its contemporary mission (liberal democracy) is to promote capitalism and economic liberalism.
Democracy has been on the slaughter slap in the wake of the recent ascendancy of right wing populism across the world, preaching exclusionary doctrines, re-regulating immigration and travel documents and waging rhetorical warfare against difference. Within Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has been particularly vocal on how foreign/un-African democracy is. Some of these claims should fall apart or stand tall at the NPSA online event.
The impending re-engagement with democracy therefore promises to be stimulating.
