Nigeria Fourth Republic: Exploring the Intersection of Human Rights, The Rule of Law and Democratic Governance, 1999-2023

Human rights abuses have been one of the challenges facing Nigeria since the First Republic in 1960 up untill date. On these premises, this study elucidates the interconnectedness and intricate relationships among human rights, democratic governance, and the rule of law in Nigeria. Specifically, the study examines factors undermining Nigeria's democratic governance, rule of law, and human rights. The study adopted mixed methods design with 600 respondents chosen across the study area. The descriptive analysis technique was employed in the analysis of the collected data. The research is theoretically grounded in elite theory. The findings of the study revealed Nigeria's ability to sustain long-term national peace, security, development, and prosperity is jeopardised by numerous instances of fundamental human rights abuses and violations of the rule of law. Equally, the socio-religious dimensions of these challenges are integral to understanding the complexities of human rights and governance issues in Nigeria. The study concludes that allowing the instantaneous development of Nigeria's three levels of government holds the potential to instil typical democratic norms, foster political stability, and pave the way for long-term peace, security, and development in the country. The study recommends that the independence of the judiciary must be strengthened, press freedom preserved, democratic norms and principles upheld, and public awareness increased in order to decrease human rights violations and promote good governance in Nigeria.