Electoral violence, declining trust in the voting process, poor voter education and difficulties in obtaining Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) could worsen voter apathy ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) has warned.
Senior Programme Manager, Democratic Accountability and Elections at KDI, Umar Dan’Assabe Muhammed, raised the concerns while speaking on Frontline, a programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, on Thursday.
Muhammed said voter turnout had remained a major challenge for Nigeria’s democracy since the return to civilian rule in 1999, noting that the number of registered voters had continued to rise while actual participation had declined.
Data from International IDEA shows that turnout in Nigeria’s presidential elections fell from 69.08 per cent in 2003 to 57.49 per cent in 2007, 53.68 per cent in 2011, 43.65 per cent in 2015, 34.75 per cent in 2019 and 26.71 per cent in 2023.
“Voter turnout has been a major challenge for Nigeria’s democracy since 1999, and it has consistently nose-dived from 1999 up till the 2023 general election,” Muhammed said.
He linked the decline partly to public disenchantment with governance, arguing that some Nigerians who mobilised and voted for candidates had become discouraged by the performance of elected officials.
“Nigerians have voted, organized for candidates, but those elected go into office and disappoint voters,” he said.
According to Muhammed, declining confidence in elections and INEC has also discouraged participation, with some citizens believing that their votes would not influence electoral outcomes.
“Many voters believe their votes will not count, so they say ‘vote no go count’ and stay away,” he said.
PVC collection remains a barrier
Muhammed identified the process of obtaining PVCs as another factor that could discourage eligible voters, particularly young Nigerians.
He said inadequate information, logistical difficulties and the distance to designated collection centres could make the process burdensome, while some voters may also have to make repeated visits before receiving their cards.
“For every single step, people get lost along the way,” he said.
INEC currently operates an online Continuous Voter Registration portal that allows prospective voters to begin registration remotely, update their details, transfer registration and apply for PVC replacement.
The commission also provides online pre-registration before biometric capture.
Muhammed acknowledged the improvements, saying citizens can now complete substantial parts of the process online before appearing physically for biometric-related requirements and PVC collection.
“You can do everything online up to biometric capture, and only need to appear physically to collect PVC and to vote,” he said.
He, however, noted that some Nigerians register primarily to obtain identification rather than to participate in elections, while others abandon the process because of the time and effort required.
“The process from registration to voting is extremely too long for this generation to cope with. As young people’s level of perseverance is low, they give up and don’t vote even after collecting PVC,” he said.
Poor voter education, campaigns may deepen apathy
Muhammed also identified inadequate voter education as a major challenge, saying responsibility for informing citizens should not rest solely with INEC.
He urged the National Orientation Agency (NOA), political parties, civil society organisations and the media to strengthen public education on voter registration, PVC collection and participation in elections.
He also criticised political parties for failing to sufficiently address issues affecting voters during campaigns, saying excessive focus on attacking opponents could discourage citizens from participating.
“What the people really want to hear from political actors is how to better their lot, but instead the polity is heated with electoral violence,” Muhammed said.
He said political campaigns should focus more on issues such as economic hardship and public services and less on hostility and confrontation.
On social media, Muhammed cited the 2023 presidential election and Peter Obi’s campaign as an example of how digital mobilisation could broaden political participation and introduce a strong contender into a contest historically dominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He cautioned, however, that online popularity did not automatically translate into votes, stressing that supporters must ultimately turn out at polling units on election day.
KDI raises alarm over electoral violence
Muhammed further identified fear of electoral violence as a major deterrent to participation.
He cited physical attacks, destruction of campaign materials and vote buying among practices capable of undermining confidence in elections and creating an atmosphere in which some citizens may fear going to the polls.
He called on INEC, security agencies, political parties, civil society groups, the media and citizens to work together to improve voter education, address logistical challenges and promote peaceful elections ahead of 2027.
Muhammed said political participation should go beyond obtaining a PVC for identification purposes, stressing that citizens should also vote and hold elected officials accountable.
