Former Vice President and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed concern over the low voter turnout in Saturday’s FCT Area Council elections.
In a statement shared on X by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku described the turnout, which averaged below 20 per cent, with the Abuja Municipal Area Council recording 7.8 per cent, as a troubling reflection of the state of Nigeria’s democracy under the current administration.
He said the poor participation in the nation’s capital, regarded as the federation’s symbolic centre, was not coincidental.
According to him, the development stems from a political climate marked by intolerance, intimidation and the systematic weakening of opposition voices.
The former presidential candidate alleged that the administration of President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress has adopted policies that restrict democratic space, target dissenters and treat alternative political views as threats rather than contributions to national growth.
“When citizens lose faith that their votes matter, democracy begins to die,” Atiku said. “This is not just voter apathy. It reflects an administration that constrains pluralism. Nigeria’s democracy is being steadily undermined.”
He warned that continued erosion of participatory governance could cause lasting damage to the democratic structure built over the years.
“A democracy without strong opposition, free competition and public trust exists in name only. If this trend continues, history may judge this period as one when hard-earned freedoms gave way to fear and conformity,” he added.
Atiku urged opposition parties and pro-democracy groups nationwide to unite.
“This goes beyond party interests; it concerns the survival of the Republic. The time to come together to rebuild and safeguard Nigeria is now,” he said.
