Former Vice President of Nigeria and senior figure in the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed concern over the low turnout recorded in Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, describing it as a troubling reflection of the country’s democratic health.
Reacting to the polls, Atiku said participation averaged below 20 per cent, with the Abuja Municipal Area Council recording just 7.8 per cent turnout. He described the figures as a “damning verdict” on the state of democracy under the current administration.
According to him, weak civic engagement in the nation’s capital is not coincidental but stems from “a political environment poisoned by intolerance, intimidation, and the systematic weakening of opposition voices.”
The Waziri Adamawa accused the government of Bola Tinubu of narrowing democratic space, targeting dissent, and creating conditions in which 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 the continued decline in participatory governance could inflict lasting harm on the country’s democratic foundations and 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 added.
