A democracy advocacy group, KDI, has warned that declining public confidence in elections, cumbersome Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection procedures and fears of electoral violence could worsen voter apathy ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Senior Programme Manager for Democratic Accountability and Elections at KDI, Umar Dan’Assabe Muhammed, raised the concerns on Thursday, October 15, 2026, while speaking on Frontline, a programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State.
Muhammed said low voter turnout had remained a persistent challenge to Nigeria’s democracy since the return to civilian rule in 1999, with the gap between registered voters and actual votes cast raising questions about citizens’ participation in governance.
He attributed the trend partly to public disenchantment with elected officials, arguing that some Nigerians who actively supported political candidates had become discouraged by the performance of those eventually elected into office.
“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 reinforced the perception among some citizens 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,” Muhammed said.
He identified difficulties associated with PVC collection as another obstacle to participation, particularly among young people who may find the registration and collection process too demanding.
According to him, inadequate information, logistical difficulties and the distance between voters’ residences and designated collection centres can discourage eligible citizens from completing the process. Some applicants, he added, encounter difficulties obtaining their cards on their first visit.
Muhammed noted that although INEC had introduced online options for parts of the registration process, some citizens remained unaware of the available procedures or encountered difficulties navigating the different stages.
“For every single step, people get lost along the way,” he said.
He also observed that some Nigerians register primarily to obtain a means of 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, so they give up and don’t vote even after collecting PVC,” he said.
However, Muhammed described the availability of online registration options as an encouraging development, urging eligible voters, especially young people, to take advantage of the digital facilities.
He said applicants could complete the relevant online stages before appearing physically for biometric capture where required, PVC collection and voting, although the precise steps depend on the service being accessed.
Muhammed further identified voter education as a major gap requiring attention from INEC, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), political parties, civil society organisations and the media.
He said inadequate public awareness could leave eligible voters uninformed about registration procedures, collection deadlines and other requirements for participating in elections. He called for stronger public education and mobilisation to address the problem.
The KDI official also criticised political campaigns that focus on attacking opponents rather than presenting practical solutions to citizens’ concerns.
He argued that Nigerians wanted to hear how political parties intended to address economic hardship, improve public services and enhance their living conditions, rather than witness campaigns dominated by hostility and confrontation.
“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 social media mobilisation, Muhammed cited the 2023 presidential election and Peter Obi’s campaign as an example of how digital platforms could draw attention to candidates and encourage political engagement beyond traditional party structures.
He cautioned, however, that online popularity alone did not guarantee electoral success, stressing that supporters must translate their digital engagement into physical participation at polling stations.
Fear of electoral violence, he added, remained another significant deterrent. He identified physical attacks, destruction of campaign materials and vote buying as practices capable of undermining confidence in elections and discouraging citizens from voting.
Muhammed called on INEC, security agencies, political parties, civil society groups, the media and citizens to work collectively to improve voter education, address logistical challenges and promote peaceful elections ahead of 2027.
He stressed that democratic participation should extend beyond obtaining PVCs for identification purposes to voting and holding elected officials accountable.
He maintained that more issue-based political campaigns, improved electoral administration and stronger public confidence in democratic institutions were necessary to encourage greater participation in the 2027 general elections.
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