Which type of democracy is Nigeria operating as a democratic state?

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks which form of democracy Nigeria practises. The key is to look at how citizens take part in government.

Step 2: Explain the concepts

• Classical (direct) democracy: Practised in ancient Athens, where all citizens met in person to make laws and decisions. This only works for very small populations.
• Representative (indirect) democracy: Citizens elect people to make decisions and laws on their behalf, such as Senators, House of Representatives members, State Assembly members, and the President and Governors.
• Restricted democracy: Participation is limited to certain groups, for example by property, gender, or race.
• Socialist democracy: The state controls the economy and its resources, which is an economic and ideological system rather than Nigeria's system of political participation.
• Twenty-first century democracy: This is not a recognised type of democracy.

Step 3: Apply to Nigeria Nigeria has more than 200 million people, so direct participation by everyone in lawmaking is impossible. Instead:

• Citizens aged 18 and above vote in periodic elections.
• They elect representatives to the National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives), State Houses of Assembly, and Local Government councils.
• They also elect the President and Governors to run the executive arm.
• Elected officials are accountable to the people and can be voted out.

This is the definition of representative democracy.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is B. representative.

Tip: Link the word to the practice. Large population means elections, which means representatives. If a question mentions everyone meeting to decide directly, think of classical (direct) democracy such as ancient Athens or the Swiss cantons. Whenever you see "elected officials make laws for the people," the answer is representative democracy.