Democracy advocacy group, Kimpact Development Initiative, KDI has expressed grave concern that growing public skepticism could drive voter apathy to unprecedented levels in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ogun State, KDI’s Senior Programme Manager for Democratic Accountability and Elections, Umar Dan’Assabe Muhammed, warned that low turnout remains one of the greatest threats to Nigeria’s democracy.
He attributed the steady decline in voter participation since 1999 to widespread public disenchantment with governance and the poor performance of elected leaders.
“Nigerians have voted, organized for candidates, but those elected go into office and disappoint voters. Many voters believe their votes will not count so they say ‘vote no go count’ and stay away,” Muhammed stated.
Beyond governance failures, the election expert noted that cumbersome Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection processes, poor voter education, and fear of political violence continue to alienate eligible voters.
He highlighted that many citizens abandon PVC retrieval due to distance and financial costs, while others register solely to acquire a government-issued identification card rather than to exercise their franchise.
Despite these hurdles, Muhammed acknowledged key technological progress by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) designed to streamline registration.
“You can do everything online up to biometric capture, and only need to appear physically to collect PVC and to vote, which is a very good improvement that citizens, especially young people, should embrace,” he said.
However, he emphasized that a critical gap in civic education remains, calling on INEC, the National Orientation Agency, political parties, civil society organizations, and media houses to step up awareness campaigns.
Citing Peter Obi’s 2023 campaign as a model for how social media can mobilize youth, Muhammed nevertheless cautioned that online enthusiasm does not automatically guarantee ballot-box success.
He concluded by urging security agencies, electoral authorities, and political parties to eliminate vote buying and campaign violence to rebuild public trust before 2027.
