Valentin Bianki discusses Nigerian democratic resilience in Abuja

At a book presentation in Abuja, political psychologist and campaign strategist Valentin Bianki discussed the complexities of Nigerian democracy in his new book, ‘Politics in Nigeria: Elites and Voters’. Bianki argued that while Nigeria receives low scores in international democracy indices, the country demonstrates significant resilience through its capacity to manage political conflict and intense competition.

Bianki characterized the 2023 general elections as the most open contest since the return to civilian rule in 1999. He noted that President Bola Tinubu won with 36.6% of the vote, marking the lowest share for a successful presidential candidate since 1999. The discussion, which included 36 experts, examined implications for voter behavior, regional representation, and preparations for the 2027 elections.