Religion and ethnicity undermining our democracy

Democracy, in its purest conception, rests on the principles of equality, merit and the collective will of the people. Yet, in many plural societies such as Nigeria, these ideals are increasingly suffocated by the influence of religion and ethnicity—two forces that, while culturally significant, have become pernicious tools in the political arena.

Rather than serving as sources of identity and moral guidance, religion and ethnicity are now frequently weaponised to manipulate electoral outcomes and consolidate power. Political actors, bereft of substantive policy direction, often resort to sectarian rhetoric, appealing to primordial loyalties instead of rational judgement. The result is a polity where competence is subordinated to kinship, and governance becomes an extension of tribal arithmetic.

This phenomenon is particularly deleterious because it erodes the very fabric of democratic accountability. When voters cast their ballots based on shared faith or ethnic affinity, they inadvertently absolve leaders of the responsibility to perform. Mediocrity is tolerated, corruption is rationalised, and failure is excused—all under the guise of protecting “our own”. In such an environment, democracy devolves into a mere ritual of elections devoid of meaningful choice.

Moreover, the entrenchment of religious and ethnic divisions fosters an atmosphere of distrust and antagonism. Political competition, instead of being a contest of ideas, morphs into a zero-sum struggle for dominance among groups. This not only heightens social fragmentation but also engenders instability, as marginalised communities feel perpetually excluded from the corridors of power. The consequences are manifest in recurrent tensions, sporadic violence and a chronic inability to build national consensus.

The insidious role of religion in governance further complicates matters. While faith can provide a moral compass, its politicisation often leads to bigotry. Leaders who cloak themselves in religious legitimacy may resist criticism, portraying dissent as sacrilege. This conflation of divine authority with political power is antithetical to democratic ideals, which thrive on debate, plurality and the freedom to ask questions.

Similarly, ethnic politics undermines the notion of citizenship. It reduces individuals to mere representatives of their groups, stripping them of agency and reinforcing stereotypes. National identity becomes fractured, replaced by a parochial mindset that prioritises sectional interests over collective progress.

To salvage Nigerian democracy from this quagmire, there must be a deliberate shift towards issue-based politics. Since 2015, governments have increasingly favoured people from their ethnic and religious stocks with the juiciest and largest number of official posts. The principle of Federal Character, as enshrined in Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) has been relegated, worsening corruption and incompetence, and compromising national solidarity.

Ultimately, democracy cannot flourish in an environment where identity supersedes integrity. Religion and ethnicity, if left unchecked in the political sphere, will continue to corrode our democratic values, leaving behind a hollow system that serves only the interests of a few.

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