Elite Fragmentation and Oligarchic Implosion in Nigeria’s Democratic Space: A mere Stopgap or an Impetus to People’s Emancipation?

The Nigerian political class operates within convenient and exclusive networks that support a core political composition, that itself is predatory, authoritarian, and disconnected from society. Since democratization began in 1988, political competition has intensified, but bureaucracies have remained only moderately effective, and political parties and civil society have shown continuing weakness while the elite continually holds the polity by the jugular by way of power contestation and domination. While successive political leaders are unable to offer even the most basic services to the people, more than ever before, it appears the mass public only represents a legitimizing tool for electoral indiscretions.