Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised the alarm over the low voter turnout in the just-concluded Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, describing the dismal participation as a clear sign that Nigeria’s democracy is under severe threat and being deliberately suffocated under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement posted on his verified X handle on Sunday, Atiku, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), lamented the outcome of Saturday’s polls, framing the widespread voter disengagement not as simple apathy but as a direct consequence of a toxic political climate.
He pointed to intolerance, intimidation, and the systematic weakening of opposition voices as root causes, accusing the ruling government of shrinking democratic space, harassing dissenters, coercing defections, and treating alternative viewpoints as threats rather than legitimate contributions to national progress.
“When citizens lose faith that their votes matter, democracy begins to die. This is not mere voter apathy. Democracy in Nigeria is being suffocated—slowly and dangerously,” Atiku stated.
The former VP warned that the continued erosion of participatory governance risks inflicting lasting damage on the country’s democratic foundations, urging opposition parties to unite in response to what he sees as a deliberate chokehold on pluralism.
Atiku’s sharp critique follows reports of low turnout across the FCT during the local government elections, which saw the All Progressives Congress (APC) secure victories in five of the six area councils amid broader concerns about electoral integrity and public confidence in the democratic process.
