NJOMACS

This study critically examines the phenomenon of political hyperreality and its relationship with political reality in Nigeria, exploring how media representations, elite manipulation, and symbolic performances shape citizens' perceptions of governance and democracy. Anchored in Jean Baudrillard's Theory of Simulacra and Simulation, the paper argues that Nigeria's political environment has evolved into a mediated sphere where signs, spectacles, and images increasingly replace substantive governance outcomes. The research employs a critical literature review covering studies published between 2000 and 2024, systematically sourced from peer-reviewed journals, policy documents, and digital archives via databases such as Scopus, JSTOR, Google Scholar, and AJOL Data were thematically analyzed to synthesize theoretical and empirical insights on media-driven political performances and symbolic governance. Findings indicate that both traditional and digital media collaborate often inadvertently with political elites to construct convincing yet deceptive narratives of progress, unity, and legitimacy. These narratives are sustained through media-managed publicity, orchestrated humanitarian performances, and digital propaganda, which generate illusions of accountability and stability while masking enduring dysfunctions such as corruption, insecurity, and poverty. The study concludes that this hyperreal political culture undermines democratic consolidation by distorting public consciousness, eroding institutional trust, and transforming political participation into spectacle. It recommends enhanced media literacy, regulatory safeguards, and institutional transparency to re-anchor Nigerian democracy in verifiable, evidence-based political realities