2027: Duke Questions Democracy, Says Military Rule Delivered Better Welfare

Former Cross River State governor and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate Donald Duke has stirred fresh debate over Nigeria’s democratic journey, declaring that ordinary Nigerians were better off under military administrations than they are after nearly three decades of civilian rule.

Speaking during an interview on the Policy Without Politics podcast, Duke said the true measure of any political system should be the well-being of its people rather than the mere existence of democratic institutions. He argued that governance has become significantly more expensive while delivering fewer tangible benefits to citizens.

“The people were better off under the military. At least governance was not that expensive,” Duke said, adding that Nigeria today is less affordable than it was when democracy returned in 1999.

Duke, who governed Cross River State from 1999 to 2007, said many of the country’s most pressing challenges—including unemployment, poor electricity supply, inadequate healthcare and infrastructure deficits—remain unresolved despite 27 years of constitutional democracy. According to him, several of those problems have worsened rather than improved.

The former governor also questioned the effectiveness of Nigeria’s democratic institutions, alleging that the legislature and judiciary have failed to provide meaningful checks on executive power. He cited the swift passage of the bill restoring Nigeria’s former national anthem as an example of what he described as inadequate legislative scrutiny.

Beyond institutional criticism, Duke argued that public confidence in elections has steadily declined. He said many Nigerians believe their votes no longer influence political outcomes, contributing to voter apathy and weakening accountability between elected leaders and the electorate.

His remarks come as political parties intensify campaigns ahead of the 2027 general election, with governance, economic hardship and institutional reform emerging as central issues in the presidential contest. The comments are Duke’s personal political assessment and have not drawn an official response from the Federal Government.

Nigeria returned to democratic rule on May 29, 1999, ending decades of intermittent military governments that began with the country’s first coup in 1966. Since then, six civilian presidents have governed Africa’s most populous nation, while debates over whether democracy has translated into improved living standards have remained a recurring feature of national politics.

Duke’s intervention is likely to resonate because it shifts attention from the structure of democracy to its outcomes. Whether Nigerians agree with his conclusion or not, his comments underscore a growing political reality: ahead of 2027, the contest is increasingly being fought over which system and which leaders can best deliver security, prosperity and accountable governance.