Former Vice President of Nigeria and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has raised alarm over the low voter turnout recorded in Saturday’s FCT Area Council elections.
Reacting to the development, Atiku described the turnout—averaging below 20 per cent, with the Abuja Municipal Area Council recording 7.8 per cent—as a damning verdict on the state of Nigeria’s democracy under the current administration.
According to him, such poor civic participation in the nation’s capital is not accidental but the result of “a political environment poisoned by intolerance, intimidation, and the systematic weakening of opposition voices.”
Atiku accused the Bola Tinubu-led government of shrinking the democratic space, harassing dissenters, and fostering a climate where alternative political views are treated as threats.
“When citizens lose faith that their votes matter, democracy begins to die,” he said. “This is not mere voter apathy. Democracy in Nigeria is being suffocated—slowly and dangerously.”
Atiku warned that continued erosion of participatory governance could cause lasting damage to the country’s democratic foundations. He urged opposition parties to unite.
“This is no longer about party lines; it is about preserving the Republic. The time to stand together to rescue and rebuild Nigeria is now,” he said.
