A democracy advocacy group, KDI, has warned that declining public confidence in the electoral process, electoral violence and poor voter education could worsen voter apathy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Senior Programme Manager, Democratic Accountability and Elections at KDI, Umar Dan’Assabe Muhammed, raised the concern while speaking on Frontline on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
Muhammed said voter turnout had remained a major challenge for Nigeria’s democracy since the return to democratic rule in 1999, noting that the persistent gap between registered voters and actual votes cast raised concerns about citizens’ participation in elections.
He attributed the trend partly to public disenchantment with governance and the failure of elected officials to meet voters’ expectations after securing their support during election campaigns.
“Nigerians have voted, organised for candidates, but those elected go into office and disappoint voters,” he said.
The KDI programme manager added that declining trust in the electoral process and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had discouraged many Nigerians from participating in elections.
According to him, some citizens had become convinced that their votes would not influence electoral outcomes, prompting them to stay away from polling stations.
“Many voters believe their votes will not count, so they say ‘vote no go count’ and stay away,” he said.
Muhammed also identified difficulties associated with Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection as another factor that could prevent eligible Nigerians from participating in the 2027 elections.
He explained that cumbersome procedures, inadequate information and logistical challenges could discourage prospective voters, particularly young people, from completing the registration and collection process.
Although INEC had introduced online options for some stages of voter registration, he said many citizens still encountered difficulties navigating the process, while others remained unaware that PVC collection had commenced.
“For every single step, people get lost along the way,” he added.
He further observed that the location of designated PVC collection centres posed challenges for some voters, especially residents of large wards who had to travel considerable distances and incur additional costs to collect their cards.
According to him, some eligible voters also had to make repeated visits to collection centres without obtaining their PVCs.
Muhammed said some Nigerians registered primarily to obtain PVCs as means of identification rather than to participate in elections, while others abandoned 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, so they give up and don’t vote even after collecting PVC,” he said.
He, however, commended INEC for introducing improvements to the registration process, urging eligible Nigerians, particularly young people, to take advantage of the available online options.
“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.
The KDI official also identified inadequate voter education as a major challenge, calling for greater involvement of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), political parties, civil society organisations and the media in educating and mobilising citizens ahead of the elections.
He noted that although INEC collaborated with civil society groups and media organisations to sensitise voters, more concerted efforts were needed to ensure that eligible citizens understood registration procedures and the importance of participating in elections.
Muhammed also criticised political parties for failing to make citizens’ concerns the focus of their campaigns, arguing that excessive attacks on opponents and the atmosphere of political hostility could further discourage voter participation.
He said Nigerians wanted political actors to explain how their policies and programmes would address their everyday challenges, including economic hardship and inadequate public services.
“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,” he said.
On the role of social media in political mobilisation, Muhammed cited the 2023 presidential election and the campaign of Peter Obi as an example of how digital platforms could generate political interest and challenge the dominance of established political parties.
He, however, cautioned that online popularity did not automatically translate into electoral victory, stressing that supporters must move beyond social media engagement to cast their votes on election day.
The programme manager also identified fear of electoral violence as a significant factor contributing to voter apathy, citing physical attacks, destruction of campaign materials and vote buying as practices capable of undermining public confidence in elections.
He warned that voters who feared for their safety could choose to remain at home rather than risk exposing themselves to violence at polling stations.
Muhammed called on INEC, security agencies, political parties, civil society organisations, the media and citizens to work together to address the challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He stressed the need for improved voter education, easier access to PVC collection centres, issue-based campaigns and stronger institutional accountability to encourage greater participation.
He added that political engagement should not end with obtaining a PVC for identification purposes but should extend to voting and holding elected officials accountable for their performance in office.
