Former Vice President and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed concern over the low voter turnout recorded in Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections.
In a statement shared by his media aide, Paul Ibe, on X, Atiku described the turnout — reportedly averaging below 20 per cent, with the Abuja Municipal Area Council posting 7.8 per cent — as a troubling indicator of the state of Nigeria’s democracy under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, the poor civic participation in the nation’s capital reflects what he termed a shrinking democratic space. He argued that the current political climate has discouraged active engagement, alleging that intolerance, intimidation and the weakening of opposition voices have contributed to voter disillusionment.
The former presidential candidate accused the government led by the All Progressives Congress of pursuing policies that, in his view, undermine pluralism and treat dissent as a threat rather than a democratic necessity.
“When citizens lose faith that their votes matter, democracy begins to die,” Atiku stated, warning that what is often described as voter apathy may instead signal deeper concerns about governance and political inclusion.
He cautioned that continued erosion of participatory governance could have lasting implications for the country’s democratic foundations, stressing that democracy thrives on vibrant opposition, credible competition and public trust.
Atiku further called on opposition parties and other democratic stakeholders to unite in defence of the Republic, urging collective action to safeguard and strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
