“This Is Civilian Dictatorship” — Darlington Blasts Tinubu’s  Power Structure

A legal practitioner and political analyst, Barrister Darlington Agomuo, on Monday, warned that Nigeria’s democracy is under serious threat due to what he described as the “capture” of key institutions by political elites.

Speaking during a live broadcast on Voice of the People (VOP) TV, Barrister Agomu argued that the nation’s current political instability is rooted in the capture of regulatory and judicial bodies by the political elite, leaving the average citizen without a voice.

 “A nation cannot breathe when its lungs—the judiciary and the electoral umpire—are being squeezed by the hands of partisan interests,” he said.

Mr Agomuo’s remarks come amid ongoing internal crises across major political parties and increasing public concern over judicial decisions in electoral disputes.

Urgent reforms

He therefore urged the implementation of urgent reforms to restore the country’s political independence and public trust.

“We are seeing a trend where the rule of law is being replaced by the ‘rule of the powerful.’ If we do not return to constitutional supremacy, we are merely practising a civilian dictatorship disguised as democracy.” He added.

He argued that institutions meant to serve as checks on power are gradually losing their neutrality, creating an uneven political landscape.

The analyst warned that growing public frustration, especially among young Nigerians, could have far-reaching consequences.

According to him, when citizens lose confidence in both the electoral process and the judiciary, it creates a dangerous vacuum that may push people toward alternative, potentially destabilising means of expression. 

He called for an “institutional decoupling” that would remove executive influence from the appointment of heads of critical agencies.

Expanding his critique, Mr Agomuo described what he termed the “weaponisation of poverty,” arguing that political actors are increasingly exploiting economic hardship to maintain control during elections. 

He noted that this dynamic deepens voter dependency and weakens democratic participation.

2027 elections 

The analyst also weighed in on emerging political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, describing coalition talks across parties as largely ineffective without ideological clarity. 

He stressed that movements between parties would remain “motion without movement” unless driven by genuine reform agendas.

Mr Agomuo advocated what he called intellectual militancy—a sustained, peaceful challenge to poor governance through informed civic engagement.

Barrister Darlington has consistently advocated institutional reforms within Nigeria’s political system.

His comments add to the growing national discourse following the 2023 general elections and subsequent tribunal rulings, which have continued to generate debate over judicial independence and electoral credibility.