VOlUME 05 ISSUE 04 April 2026
1Salihu Ismaila EVUTI, Ph.D., 2Maruff Adeola ADESINA
1Department of International Relations and Diplomacy, Baze University, Abuja
2Department of International Relations and Diplomacy, Baze University, Abuja
ORCID Profile: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8258-1197
DOI : https://doi.org/10.58806/ijsshmr.2026.v5i4n31Google Scholar Download Pdf
ABSTRACT
Globally, democracy is widely recognized as a preferred system of governance, but its trajectory in recent decades has been potholed. Even though, competitive elections and democratic institutions have proliferated across different regions, many countries especially in Africa, continue to experience democratic erosion, weakened rule-of-law, and fragile institutions. Also, scholars have widely examined the nexus between democracy, nation-building, and integration in Nigeria, but producing mixed empirical findings with little emphasis on the interconnectedness of these variables as a framework of political stability and development. Therefore, this paper examines the interconnections between democracy, nation-building, and national integration as critical drivers of political stability, growth, and sustainable development in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. Drawing on modernization theory and structural functionalism, the study situates democracy not merely as a procedural framework of elections but as a mechanism for inclusion, cohesion, and equitable development. Using a qualitative research approach, descriptive research design and secondary sources such as INEC reports, Afrobarometer surveys, World Bank data, and human rights reports, the paper found that there are gaps between democratic survival and democratic effectiveness in Nigeria. Comparative cases from India and South Africa demonstrate how inclusive representation, credible institutions, and redistributive policies can transform democracy into a vehicle for stability. The study concludes that democracy in Nigeria will remain fragile unless reforms directly address these structural deficits. The paper argues that reforms in electoral integrity, fiscal federalism, security sector governance, and civic inclusion are essential if democracy is to consolidate national integration and foster long-term stability and development in Nigeria.
KEYWORDS:Democracy, nation-building, national integration, political stability, Nigeria, development
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Cite this Article:EVUTI, S. I., & ADESINA, M. A. (2026). Democracy, Nation-Building and National Integration: A Framework for Political Stability, Growth and Development in Nigeria. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE HUMANITY & MANAGEMENT RESEARCHS, 5(4), 842-854. https://doi.org/10.58806/ijsshmr.2026.v5i4n31