Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has warned that Nigeria could lose its hard-won democracy if the country remains on its current trajectory.

Speaking in Abuja on Monday at a national conference on strengthening democracy, Atiku said, “We are at a crossroads. We must decide if we want to remain democratic or abandon it.” He expressed concerns about the increasing influence of courts in determining election winners, rather than the electorate.

He lamented the diminishing role of political parties in governance, stating, “Parties should direct governance based on interactions with the people during campaigns. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case.”

Atiku criticised the National Assembly, describing it as overly compliant with the executive branch, but added that Nigerians must push for reforms. “I submitted recommendations for amending the Electoral Act, but I doubt they will be adopted,” he said.

Citing Turkey’s electoral system, Atiku questioned Nigeria’s electoral commission’s credibility, accusing the current government of financially influencing opposition party leaders. “If we don’t act, we risk losing our democracy,” he warned.

Atiku also stressed the importance of opposition unity, reflecting on the APC’s formation as a lesson in coalition-building. “If we fail to learn from history, democracy may become a thing of the past. God forbid,” he concluded.