Merits and Demerits of Democracy

Understanding Democracy

Democracy comes from two Greek words: “demos” (people) and “kratos” (power). In a democratic system, every citizen has a voice in how the country runs. Nigeria adopted democracy after military rule ended in 1999, and we have been practicing it since then.

In Nigeria, democracy works through elections. Every four years, citizens vote for presidents, governors, senators, and house of assembly members. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) organizes these elections. Citizens aged 18 and above can vote after registering with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Democracy exists in different forms. Direct democracy happens when people vote on every issue themselves. This works in small communities but becomes difficult in large countries. Representative democracy, which Nigeria practices, means people elect leaders to make decisions on their behalf.

Merits of Democracy

1. Accountability of Leaders

Democratic leaders answer to the people who elected them. If a governor misuses state funds or fails to build roads, citizens can vote him out in the next election. This keeps leaders on their toes. In Lagos State, for example, governors must show progress in transportation, education, and health to win re-election.

The National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly also hold executives accountable. They can summon ministers and commissioners to explain their actions. In 2023, the Senate summoned the Minister of Education to explain the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.

2. Protection of Human Rights

Democracy guarantees fundamental human rights. The Nigerian Constitution protects freedom of speech, movement, association, and religion. Citizens can criticize government policies without fear of arrest. Journalists can report government failures. Protesters can carry placards on the streets of Abuja demanding better governance.

Organizations like the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) ensure these rights are respected. If police arrest you wrongly, you can take them to court. This protection does not exist in military or authoritarian systems where speaking against government can land you in prison.

3. Supremacy of the Constitution

In democracy, the constitution stands above everyone, including the president. No leader can change laws alone. Section 1 of the 1999 Constitution states that the constitution is supreme and binds all authorities in Nigeria.

When President Olusegun Obasanjo tried to change the constitution for a third term in 2006, the National Assembly rejected it. This shows that even the most powerful person must obey constitutional limits. Courts can also declare government actions unconstitutional, as they did with some COVID-19 lockdown measures.

4. Freedom of Expression and Press

Democracy allows people to express their opinions freely. Nigerian newspapers like The Punch, The Guardian, and Vanguard criticize government policies daily. Social media platforms let citizens discuss politics openly. Radio stations host call-in programs where people complain about bad roads or poor electricity.

This freedom helps identify problems quickly. When citizens complained about fuel scarcity in 2023, the government knew it had to act. Without press freedom, leaders might not know or care about people’s suffering.

5. Rule of Law

Democracy promotes equal treatment under the law. Rich and poor, powerful and weak, all face the same laws. Former governors have gone to prison for corruption. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecutes high-ranking officials who steal public funds.

Courts operate independently without government interference. Judges make decisions based on law, not political pressure. If you have a dispute with government, you can sue and win. This differs from dictatorships where leaders control courts.

6. Majority Rule

Democratic decisions reflect what most people want. The candidate with the highest votes wins elections. Laws pass when majority of lawmakers support them. This ensures government policies match citizens’ wishes.

In 2015, Nigerians voted massively for change, and President Muhammadu Buhari won. In 2023, they chose President Bola Tinubu. The majority’s choice determines who governs, not military coups or family inheritance.

7. Political Stability

Democracy creates stable systems because power changes through elections, not violence. When citizens know they can vote out bad leaders in four years, they become patient instead of organizing coups or revolutions.

Nigeria has maintained one democratic system since 1999, our longest democratic period ever. This stability attracts foreign investors who need predictable environments for business. Companies like Dangote Cement and MTN thrive because democracy provides stability.

8. Citizen Participation

Democracy gives everyone a chance to contribute to governance. You can join political parties, contest elections, or work in civil society organizations. Youth Corps members can participate in elections as INEC ad-hoc staff.

This participation educates citizens about government. People learn about policies, rights, and responsibilities. An educated citizenry makes better political choices and demands better governance.

Demerits of Democracy

1. Expensive to Operate

Democracy costs enormous money to run. INEC spent over ₦305 billion on the 2023 general elections. This money covered printing ballot papers, paying staff, buying materials, and securing polling units across 176,846 polling units nationwide.

The National Assembly budget reaches hundreds of billions of naira yearly. Each senator earns millions in salaries and allowances. State assemblies also cost billions. Critics argue this money should build hospitals, schools, and roads instead. Poor countries like Nigeria struggle to fund democracy properly.

2. Slow Decision-Making

Democratic processes take time. Before passing a law, bills must go through first reading, second reading, committee stage, third reading, and presidential assent. This can take months or years. The Petroleum Industry Bill took over a decade to pass.

During emergencies, this slowness causes problems. If flooding destroys roads, government cannot fix them immediately without following procurement processes. In dictatorships, leaders make instant decisions, though often without consulting citizens.

3. Encourages Lobbying and Godfatherism

Democracy creates room for manipulation. Wealthy individuals sponsor candidates and expect favors when they win. In Nigerian politics, “godfathers” control who gets party tickets. They fund campaigns and later influence government appointments and contracts.

This means money, not merit, often determines who governs. Capable leaders without financial backing struggle to win elections. Businessmen and women spend billions campaigning, then recoup the money through questionable contracts when they win.

4. Tyranny of the Majority

Democracy can oppress minorities. If three ethnic groups form majority, they might ignore the fourth group’s needs. Majority can vote for policies that hurt minorities. In religiously divided states, majority religion might pass laws that discriminate against minority faiths.

This explains why Nigeria practices federalism with checks and balances. The Federal Character Principle in Section 14(3) of the Constitution ensures all states get representation in government to prevent majority domination.

5. Electoral Malpractice

Nigerian democracy suffers from rigging, violence, and vote-buying. Politicians pay voters ₦5,000 or ₦10,000 to buy votes. Thugs snatch ballot boxes in some areas. INEC sometimes uploads questionable results to the IREV portal.

These practices undermine democracy’s essence. When riggers install leaders, government stops representing people’s will. Citizens lose trust in elections and stop participating. Low voter turnout in recent elections reflects this frustration.

6. Emphasis on Quantity Over Quality

Democracy counts heads instead of considering wisdom. A professor’s vote equals an illiterate person’s vote. Majority can make foolish choices if not properly educated. People might vote based on tribe, religion, or money instead of competence.

This explains why voter education matters. INEC and civil society organizations must teach citizens to vote wisely. Without education, democracy becomes mob rule where emotions override reason.

7. Expensive Campaigns

Contesting elections costs millions or billions of naira. Presidential candidates spend billions on campaigns, rallies, media adverts, and party agents. Only wealthy people or those backed by rich sponsors can compete.

This excludes talented but poor citizens from leadership. A brilliant student who wants to serve Nigeria cannot afford campaign costs. Politics becomes a rich person’s game, creating leadership gaps.

8. Partisan Politics

Democracy divides people into political camps. Party members fight each other instead of cooperating for national development. Opposition parties criticize everything government does, even good policies, just to score political points.

This partisanship wastes energy. Instead of everyone working together to fix bad roads, party A blames party B for the roads, and party B defends itself. National development suffers while politicians trade insults on television.

Comparison: Democracy vs Other Systems

Common Exam Mistakes

WAEC examiners report that students make these errors when answering questions about democracy:

• Listing without explaining: Students write “Democracy promotes accountability” without explaining how leaders account to citizens through elections, legislative oversight, or judicial review.
• Confusing merits with features: Writing “free and fair elections” as a merit when it is a feature. The merit is that elections allow citizens to choose leaders.
• Vague statements: Saying “democracy is expensive” without giving examples like election costs, legislative expenses, or campaign spending.
• Ignoring Nigerian examples: Using only textbook definitions without relating to Nigeria’s democratic experience since 1999.
• Mixing up command words: When asked to “explain,” students merely “state” points. Explanation requires showing why or how something happens.
• Poor expression: Writing “democracy expensive too much” instead of “democracy is expensive to operate because it requires funding elections, legislature, and judiciary.”
• Forgetting both sides: Discussing only merits when question asks for merits AND demerits, or vice versa.

Practice Questions

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following is a major demerit of democracy?
a) Protection of human rights
b) High cost of operation ✓
c) Rule of law
d) Citizen participation

2. Democracy promotes political stability because power changes through:
a) Military coups
b) Hereditary succession
c) Free and fair elections ✓
d) Revolutionary movements

3. The practice where wealthy individuals sponsor candidates and expect favors is called:
a) Federalism
b) Lobbying and godfatherism ✓
c) Separation of powers
d) Judicial review

4. Which Nigerian body organizes elections?
a) EFCC
b) NHRC
c) INEC ✓
d) FRSC

Essay Questions

1. Explain five merits of democracy. (10 marks)

Examiner’s tip: Give five different merits and explain each one. Use examples from Nigeria where possible. Each point should have 3-4 sentences explaining how the merit works in practice.

2. Discuss four demerits of democracy as practiced in Nigeria. (10 marks)

Examiner’s tip: Focus on problems specific to Nigerian democracy like electoral violence, vote-buying, and godfatherism. Show how these demerits affect governance and development.

3. “Democracy is expensive but worth the cost.” Discuss. (10 marks)

Examiner’s tip: Present both sides. First, explain why democracy costs much (elections, institutions, campaigns). Then argue why benefits (freedom, rights, accountability) justify the costs. Conclude with your position.

Memory Aids

Remember the main merits using ARCS-FPP:

• Accountability of leaders
• Rights protection
• Constitutional supremacy
• Stability (political)
• Freedom of expression
• Participation of citizens
• Promotes rule of law

Remember key demerits using SLOW-GATE:

• Slow decision-making
• Lobbying problems
• Oppression of minorities (tyranny)
• Wealth determines winners
• Godfatherism
• All campaigns cost billions
• Too expensive to operate
• Electoral malpractice

Related Topics

To deepen your understanding of democracy, explore these related topics:

• Types of democracy (direct and representative)
• Features of democracy
• Electoral systems in Nigeria
• Functions of INEC
• Rule of law and its importance
• Separation of powers in democracy
• Human rights and fundamental freedoms
• Political parties and their roles