Nigeria, Jan. 14 -- As Nigeria transitions into full election mode for the 2027 general elections, the political temperature is heating up at a scale that puts the country's democracy under intense pressure. Democratic institutions are struggling to respond to pressures emanating from the actions of political actors. The political landscape has been marked by heightened elite bargaining, strategic political realignments, and premature campaigns. These developments reflect a troubling pathology of Nigeria's electoral politics, which relegates governance for the advancement of electoral ambition.

Consistent with historical precedent in previous election seasons, political actors are spending less time on governance and paying more attentio...