Political Philosophy and Democratic Governance in Nigeria: Evaluating the Fourth Republic Through Rawlsian Justice

This study evaluates the political philosophy underpinning Nigeria's Fourth Republic democratic governance framework, applying John Rawls's theory of justice to assess whether democratic institutions in Nigeria satisfy the requirements of a just society. Rawlsian political philosophy, grounded in the difference principle and the original position, provides a rigorous standard for evaluating institutional arrangements and their effects on the least advantaged members of society. Using a descriptive philosophical design, the study reviews constitutional documents, electoral commission reports, and legislative records of Nigeria's Fourth Republic from 1999 to 2023, supplemented by secondary philosophical and political literature published between 2020 and 2024. Interviews with 20 political philosophers and civil society analysts in Abuja and Lagos inform the primary data. The study applies Rawls's two principles of justice, examining whether Nigerian democratic institutions are structured to benefit the worst-off citizens. Findings reveal systematic violations of the difference principle, as evidence from poverty statistics and public expenditure data confirms that democratic governance in Nigeria has predominantly benefited political and economic elites while the majority of citizens remain below subsistence thresholds. The study further argues that the veil of ignorance thought experiment reveals that rational Nigerian citizens would not consent to the current institutional arrangement. Recommendations include constitutional reforms anchored in distributive justice principles. Keywords: Rawlsian justice, Nigerian democracy, political philosophy, Fourth Republic, distributive justice.