Research
My research primarily explores how people interact with the state and the society-state contract through leadership selection and governance processes. I am particularly interested in how formal and traditional institutions interact across space, especially in developing democracies where identity plays a significant role in shaping citizens’ perceptions of these structures.
I also research and write on Africa’s sprawling diplomatic architecture and the way states interact within bilateral agreements and blocs at the regional and continental levels, to varying degrees of success. Finally, I examine how these notions of a state, particularly in regions with strong sub-national identity groups, intersect with sports and football, and how this influences the way citizens engage with statehood.
While grounded in political science, my work is interdisciplinary, drawing from history, geography, economics, and public administration. I combine qualitative and quantitative approaches, leaning from focus group discussions and data analyses, with a growing focus on spatial analysis, geocoded data, and historical mapping of governance and voting patterns.
Journal Articles
Akande OW, Elimian KO,Igumbor E, et al. Epidemiological comparison of the first and secondwaves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, February 2020–April 2021. BMJ GlobalHealth 2021;6:e007076. doi:10.1136/ bmjgh-2021-007076
Briefing Papers and Reports
Adekaiyaoja, A., Adebowale, G.and Angalapu, D. (2024). A Tale of Two Deputies – Reviewing the Political Terrain of the 2024 Ondo Governorship Election. Centre for Democracy and Development.
Adekaiyaoja, A., and Yohanna, P.(2024). A Bellwether Election - Assessing Prospects and Trends ahead of the 2024 Edogovernorship election. Centre for Democracy and Development.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (2024). Foreign Influence in West Africa’s Security Sector – The West, Russia, and China. Dataphyte.
Ayandele, J., Adekaiyaoja, A.,and Angalapu, D. (2023). Nigeria’s 2023 Election Security Landscape – Drivers, Actors and Emerging Challenges.Centre for Democracy and Development.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (2023). Imbalanced Gender Representation in Cabinets during Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. Centre for Democracy and Development.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (2023). A Game of Coalitions, Counties and Contests: A Background to the 2023 Liberian General Elections. Centre for Democracy and Development.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (2023). Close, contested but credible? Sierra Leone’s 2023 elections. Centre for Democracy and Development.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (2023). Changing of the Guard: A View at the Trends and Terrain Determining the 2023 Nigerian General Elections. Centre for Democracy and Development.
Hassan, I. and Adekaiyaoja, A. (2022). CounterCoup in Burkina Faso. Centre for Democracy and Development.
Analyses, Essays and Commentary
I've had multiple publications at African Arguments, Africa Is A Country, the CDD Blog, Democracy in Africa, Foreign Policy, TechCabal, The Republic and World Politics Review.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (12 July 2025) The Tragedy of Buharism. The Republic
Adekaiyaoja, A. (18 June 2025) Tinubu Is Reconfiguring Nigerian Politics—and Centralizing Power. WorldPolitics Review.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (8 June 2025) Is the African Union a Symbol of Waning Pan-Africanism?. The Republic.
Adekaiyaoja, A., and Yohanna, P. (1 June 2025) Have Nigerian Governors Lost Their Powers?. The Republic.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (13 April 2025) The Tragedy of an Evil Genius. The Republic.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (14 March 2025) The African Union Is Giving Djibouti’s Diplomatic Model a Try. World Politics Review.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (9 March 2025) Can Nigeria's Centre Hold?. The Republic.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (17 January 2025) 2025 will Be a Year of Change for Africa’s Continental Leadership. World Politics Review.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (19 December 2024) Ghana’s Democracy Is Not the Outlier It Is Made Out to Be. World Politics Review.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (24 November 2024) Ondo 2024 Governorship Election and the Hallmarks of a Recessive Democracy. WorldPolitics Review.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (15 October 2024) Mr Tijani Goesto Abuja. TechCabal
Adekaiyaoja, A. (13 October 2024) What Really Shaped the 2024 Edo Governorship Election?. The Republic.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (4 October 2024) Nigeria Is Coming Apart at the Seams. World Politics Review.
Adekayaoja, A. (30 September 2024)Is Nigeria Better Served with Parliamentary Governance?. The Republic.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (12 July 2024) The Niger-Benin Rift Spells More Trouble for West Africa. The Republic.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (8 July 2024) The Saga of the Kano Emirate. The Republic (Winner of The Republic’s Best Politics Essay of 2024).
Adekaiyaoja, A. (15 June 2024) So far so disappointing: Tinubu's first year. The Continent.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (10 June 2024) What has President Tinubu achieved in his first year in office?. Democracy in Africa.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (17 May 2024) Mali's Military Misadventure. CDD Blog.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (30 April 2024) Geopolitical Competition Is Reshaping West Africa. World Politics Review.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (24 April 2024) Togo's Constitutional Conflict. CDD Blog.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (26 March 2024) What Next for President Faye?. CDD Blog
Adekaiyaoja, A. (25 March 2024) Alliance of Sahel States (AES): Yet Another Regional Bloc in West Africa. CDDBlog.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (12 March 2024) Credible elections are needed to avert future coups. Africa@LSE Blog.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (6 March 2024) Senegal: A Model Democracy in Crisis. CDD Blog.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (26 February 2024) Nigeria’s elephants in the room. Africa Is A Country.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (16 February 2024) Three major lessons from a year of elections in Nigeria. Democracy in Africa.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (10 February 2024) The African Cup of Migrations. Foreign Policy.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (5 February 2024) On Eagle’s Wings.Africa Is A Country.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (1 February 2024) ECOWAS’ Setbacks Reflect Nigeria’s Waning Regional Influence. World Politics Review.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (17 January 2024) Analysis: Is Ivory Coast’s AFCON the latest African ‘sportswashing’ case?. Al Jazeera.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (7 January 2024) A Region in Uncertainty: 2024 in West Africa. CDD Blog.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (9 December 2023) Identity, personality and bias. The Continent.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (28 November 2023) The politics of hosting AFCON. Africa Is A Country.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (22 November 2023) Liberia welcomes a familiar face. CDD Blog.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (18 November 2023) The next coup: Coming to a state near you?. The Continent.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (9 November 2023) There is no youth monolith. Africa Is A Country.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (3 November 2023) Rounding off a Year of Elections - Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi go to the polls. CDDBlog.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (21 October 2023) Is the next coup coming to an African state near you?. Democracy in Africa.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (13 October 2023) Coups Are Exposing the Shortcomings of Africa’s Regional Organizations. WorldPolitics Review.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (22 August 2023) Too Big to Fail? Evaluating the Tinubu Cabinet. CDD Blog.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (8 August 2023) Tinubu’s cabinet nominees: Renewed hope or recycled tropes?. African Arguments.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (2 August 2023) Will Nigeria Reclaim Its Role as a Regional Power?. Foreign Policy.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (28 July 2023) Niger Coup d’état - A Test for West African Democracy. CDD Blog.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (30 June 2023) Uncertain Future for Sierra Leone's Democracy. CDD Blog.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (20 May 2023) Victorious. Africa Is A Country.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (18 April 2023) Isthe Party Over in Nigeria? Personality rules in a country where political parties were once kingmakers. Foreign Policy.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (30 March 2023) Nigeria’s political evolution? Reflections on the 2023 elections. CDD Blog.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (22 March 2023) Can Nigerians be optimistic about the future?. Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (16 March 2023) Could Adamawa elect Nigeria’s first female governor?. Premium Times.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (15 February 2023) The United States of Nigeria: How Feasible Is Restructuring in the Aftermath of Recent Constitutional Amendments?. The Republic.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (23 January 2023) The God(win) of Small Things: The Challenge in Finding A political Central Banker in a Partisan Landscape. The Republic.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (16 January 2023) Big Brother as a Window Into Nigerian Politics: Why Do We Respond to Reality TV and our Elections so Differently?. The Republic.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (15 January 2023) ANALYSIS:2023: Nigeria’s most consequential year since 1999. Premium Times.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (22 December 2022) ANALYSIS: Why Nigerians shouldn’t focus on presidential election alone. PremiumTimes.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (15 December 2022) Life Imitiates Ball: Geopolitics, Qatar and the FIFA World Cup. The Republic.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (11 December 2022) Analysis: Nigerians are dissatisfied with democracy. This is how to solve the problem.Premium Times.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (28 November 2022) 2023 Polls: How Winners Emerge. CDD Blog.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (20 November 2022) Presidential candidates speak on plans for Nigeria’s security, economy. PremiumTimes.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (6 November 2022) Analysis: The international implications of Nigeria’s 2023 elections. PremiumTimes.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (30 October 2022) Towards 2023 Elections: Uncertainty as campaigns begin in Nigeria. PremiumTimes.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (26 October 2022) A Decision for Nigeria: The 2023 Elections. Democracy Paradox.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (31 August 2022). The Inevitability of Bola Ahmed Tinubu - The Unsurprising Candidacy of APC's Nominee. The Republic.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (29 July 2022) The Game before the Game - The Ekiti and Osun Gubernatorial Elections in Nigeria.Democracy in Africa.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (7 July 2022) In the Mould of Aminu Kano - Rabiu Kwankwaso and the Kwankwassiya Movement in Kano. The Republic.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (22 June 2022) Nigeria’s New Kingmakers. Democracy in Africa.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (15 June 2022) More than a national pastime. Africa Is A Country.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (20 May 2022) How do you solve a problem like the NTA. Culture Custodian.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (4 May 2022) A Heartbeat of An Election Away - What Will 2023 Mean for Yemi Osinbajo?. The Republic.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (10 March 2022). The Obasanjo Doctrine - The Importance of Foreign Policy in Present-Day Nigeria.The Republic.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (28 February 2022) The Dilemma of a Ruling Party - The Challenges Ahead of APC’s Quest to Retain Power.The Republic.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (16 December 2021) What well-trodden routes to power tell us about Nigerian politics. AfricanArguments.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (22 September 2021) From Well-Worn Fatigues to Well-Tailored Suits - Review of Joseph Garba’s ‘Diplomatic Soldiering’. The Republic.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (15 August 2021) Assault on Nigerian diplomat in Indonesia: Call for action. The Punch Newspaper.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (15 October 2020) The state vs federal debate for policing in Nigeria. Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (13 March 2020) Measuring Crowns for New Nigeria. Culture Custodian.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (25 February 2020) On Awards, Nollywood and Our Heritage of Storytelling. Culture Custodian.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (21 August 2019) Sports and the Nigerian Dream. Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (10 July 2019) How sport victories help politicians. Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (8 May 2019) Four assumptions that influence the 2023 Elections. Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (19 February 2019) Don’t blame INEC: It is designed to fail. Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (3 January 2019) Governance is not Politics. Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (27 July 2018)Are Nigerian Political Parties bad for our Democracy?. Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (25 June 2018) How to win the World Cup. Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (4 June 2018) Are you better off now than you were three years ago?. Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (31 May 2018) The Story of Buhari. Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (4 April 2018) To be or not to be in the Africa Free Trade Area. Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (15 March 2018) Navigating Shit-hole Countries: The US in Africa. Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (20 February 2018)Africa’s old guard is being swept by change. Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (2 February 2018) The 37th Governor.Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (15 January 2018) In Memoriam: Armed Forces Remembrance Day . Stears Business
Adekaiyaoja, A. (5 December 2017) On the 2019 Ballot.Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (14 November 2017) Another Record Nigerian Budget. Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (2 June 2017). What is Nigeria’s foreign policy under President Buhari?. Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (20 April 2017) Strengthening the Seat of Justice. Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (28 March 2017) A New Kind of Nigerian President. Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (14 March 2017) Mayor of the F.C.T.?.Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (14 February 2017) Nigerian Presidential Succession: Who Comes Next?. Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (24 January 2017) The Gambia - Democracy’s Victory. Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (16 January 2017) Our Boys in Green.Stears Business.
Adekaiyaoja, A. (6 January 2017) The Limits of His Power. Stears Business.
Short Stories
Adekaiyaoja, A,‘Sirens’ Omenana Magazine (2025)
Adekaiyaoja, A,‘Postings’ Kalahari Review (2021)