AQUINO Journal of Philosophy

This study examines the enduring effects of coloniality and transcoloniality on African politics, with a specific focus on Nigeria's democratic governance since independence on 1st October, 1960. Coloniality, as a legacy of colonialism, persists in shaping political structures, socio-economic systems, and cultural identities across Africa as a nation. Transcoloniality, referring to the ongoing influence of global power dynamics, further entrenches external control over the domestic affairs. In the Nigerian context, these frameworks profoundly influenced the evolution of democratic governance, manifesting in weak institutions, ethnic polarization, corruption, and dependency on external actors. Despite the formal independence, Nigeria's political trajectory, still remains entangled in the residual effects of colonial systems and contemporary global pressures which still complicates the efforts to build a resilient democracy. Having employs the dialectical method of philosophical inquiry to examine the interplay between colonial legacies and modern transcolonial forces, and highlighting their implications on achieving political stability, governance reforms, and the sustainable development in Nigeria, the findings underscore necessity of decolonizing the European governance structure and fostering indigenous political solutions to achieve authentic democratic progress.

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