Civil Society and the Quality of Democracy in Nigeria's Fourth Republic: A Comparative Analysis of the PDP and APC Administrations

Abstract

This study examines the contribution of civil society to the quality of democracy in Nigeria's Fourth Republic through a comparative analysis of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) administration (2005–2015) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration (2015–2025). Specifically, it assesses the extent to which civil society organisations have promoted accountability, electoral integrity, political participation, government responsiveness and civil liberties under both administrations. The study is anchored on Antonio Gramsci's Theory of Hegemony. A qualitative comparative case study design was adopted, using key informant interviews with leading civil society organisations and documentary evidence from governance reports, election observation missions and scholarly literature. Data were analysed through thematic content analysis and triangulation. The findings reveal that civil society has remained central to democratic governance by advancing election observation, legislative oversight, policy advocacy, anti-corruption initiatives and civic education. However, despite becoming more organised and influential, its impact has been constrained by declining institutional responsiveness, shrinking civic space and weakening democratic institutions, particularly during the APC administration. Respondents generally perceived the PDP era as providing relatively greater opportunities for civic engagement, although both administrations exhibited significant democratic shortcomings. The study concludes that the quality of democracy depends not only on the strength of civil society but also on the willingness of political institutions to uphold accountability, protect civic freedoms and respond to citizens' demands. It recommends strengthening the independence of democratic institutions, safeguarding civic space, implementing electoral reforms consistently and promoting sustained collaboration between government and civil society to enhance democratic governance in Nigeria.