Many Nigerians talk about and desire good elected leaders but do not exercise their civic duty in voting during elections. In this report, PAUL OKAH writes that voter apathy has increasingly become the bane of Nigerian politics, an act that is counterproductive in a democratic governance.
Over the years, many Nigerians have advanced reasons why they stay away from participating in elections, believing that if the country must elect good leaders into offices, it makes no difference whether they cast their votes or not during elections.
Ironically, the same class of people laments about bad leadership and are often the loudest when people gather to complain about bad policies of the government of the day. They overlook the fact that they have a role to play in electing the kind of leaders they want, and that they give room for the election of bad leaders if they refuse to vote.
2026 FCT area council elections
In the 2026 FCT area council elections held on Saturday, February 21, significant voter apathy was recorded as out of the 1,680,315 total registered voters, only 239,210 residents voted. It is interesting to note that though the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said that was an improvement over the 2022 polls as approximately 15 per cent of the 1,680,315 registered voters cast their ballots, indicating an increase from the 9.4 per cent turnout recorded in the 2022 council elections. The turnout was notably low in urban centers, with the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) recording only 7.8 per cent participation.
Observers and civil society groups identified several reasons for the low engagement, attributing it to a growing disillusionment and lack of confidence in the political class and the electoral process. They complain about operational delays such as the late arrival of INEC officials and materials, and difficulty for voters in locating newly assigned polling units as a result of poor communication and public awareness.
Nevertheless, the story of increasing voter apathy is the same even in state government and presidential elections as many citizens prefer to stay away from polling units, with some individuals even preferring to play football in front of their houses or streets.
Voter apathy encourages corruption, inefficiency
Speaking with Blueprint Weekend, a political analyst in Abuja, Mr. Daniel Ibekwe, said voter apathy is counterproductive, saying, “When citizens don’t vote, elected officials feel less accountable to the public, which often leads to persistent corruption, inefficiency and a lack of transparency.”
He said: “The Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Umuoguduakpu Ngbo, in Ohaukwu LGA of Ebonyi state, Rev. Fr. John Okwoeze Odey, is particularly popular for his saying in one of his books titled Christians, Politics and the Nigerian Dilemma: “…Unlike religion, if you claim that you have nothing to do with politics, you may not be as ‘lucky’ as the atheist because, whether you like it or not, politics will have something to do with you.
“It will not only be interested in you – in fact, it will very often hold you to ransom. In spite of yourself and your aversion to politics, it will decide almost everything about you from your tiniest toe to the hair standing on your head…Whether that is right or wrong, the truth remains that no human activity is outside the pervasive influence of politics. This makes it difficult for anybody to claim that he has nothing to do with politics.
“Furthermore, in The Anti-Corruption Crusade: The Saga of a Crippled Giant (published in 2001) and in The Eleventh Commandment: You Shall Not Keep Silent in the Face of Injustice Vol..1, Father Odey said: “Any Church or minister of the gospel that will have nothing to do with politics will equally have nothing to do with the people. As a political animal, you may be partisan or non-partisan, depending on your peculiar interest and vocation in life. But it is certainly a very dangerous contract to leave politics for politicians alone.”
He continued by saying, “The priest is very correct because voter apathy in Nigeria has reached historic levels, profoundly impacting the country’s democratic legitimacy, governance quality, and national development. In the 2023 Presidential Election, voter turnout dropped to a record low of 26.72%. This means nearly 75% of registered voters did not participate, effectively allowing a small minority to make decisions for the entire population.
“In fact, voter turnout has steadily decreased from 57.5% in 1999 to 34.7% in 2019, and finally to 26.7% in 2023. Northern regions typically record higher turnouts (averaging 30% in 2023) compared to Southern regions (22%). Voter fatigue is even more pronounced in local and off-cycle elections. For instance, the 2024 Edo State governorship election saw only 22.4% turnout. However, low turnout undermines the representative nature of democracy.
“Apathy creates a self-reinforcing cycle of poor governance. When citizens don’t vote, elected officials feel less accountable to the public, which often leads to persistent corruption, inefficiency, and a lack of transparency. Low participation makes it easier for political elites to manipulate outcomes through rigging, vote-buying, and the imposition of unpopular candidates, as there are fewer “conscious people” engaging with the process.”
He therefore advised citizens to “vote for the leadership they want, instead of avoiding voting in elections and hoping for the right leaders to emerge and give you the amenities you want. You have to do your part as a citizen by voting, while the government can do its part by living up to expectations. Your decision not to vote is encouraging the bad leadership you claim to be against.”
Voting promotes accountable government – Political scientist
On her part, a political scientist, Mrs. Aisha Hamza, said voter apathy is counterproductive as it undermines the legitimacy, accountability and representativeness of a democracy, encouraging Nigerians to vote in order to have the moral right to hold the government accountable.
“Yes, voter apathy is widely considered counterproductive because it undermines the legitimacy, accountability, and representativeness of a democracy. While often a ‘silent rebellion’ against a perceived broken system, it typically reinforces the very conditions that cause the dissatisfaction. When turnout is low, a small fraction of the population determines the leadership for everyone.
“For those who may not be aware, high voter turnout forces politicians to be more responsive to the public. Conversely, apathy allows incumbents and political elites to maintain power with less scrutiny, often perpetuating cycles of corruption and poor governance.
“Low participation raises serious questions about whether a government truly represents the will of the people. Again, apathetic environments are easier for political actors to exploit through tactics like vote-buying or voter suppression, as there is less collective resistance from an engaged electorate,” Hamza said.
Research indicates that pronounced voter apathy acts as an ‘insidious enigma’ that can defeat national development goals by ensuring that government policies do not align with the actual needs of the majority.
“Observers continue to raise alarms over these trends. Most recently, local polls such as the FCT area council elections held on February 21, 2026, were characterised by significant voter apathy, furthering concerns about democratic health in the region. However, INEC and civil society groups often provide resources on voter education to help citizens bridge the gap between disillusionment and active participation,” she said.
‘It affects future generations’
On his part, an entrepreneur and social commentator, Isaac Adewale, told Blueprint Weekend that, despite many reasons, voter apathy affects generations to come. It is therefore inexcusable as the policies of the government they failed to vote for into power will still affect them.
He said: “Voter apathy in Nigeria is a multi-dimensional issue driven by deep-seated distrust in democratic institutions, security concerns and logistical barriers. Many Nigerians believe their votes do not count because of a history of rigging, ballot box snatching and result manipulation, with many perceiving INEC as vulnerable to executive influence or corruption.
“Again, a growing sentiment suggests that election winners are determined by money bag politicians through court judgments rather than at the polling units. The use of thugs and cultists to intimidate voters creates a do-or-die political atmosphere. High-profile incidents of election-related violence and killings often deter citizens from visiting polling centers for their own safety.
“Voters often feel that politicians only appear during campaigns and fail to deliver on basic needs like security, welfare and economic stability once elected. There is also a sense of hopelessness where citizens feel that regardless of who is in power, the material conditions of their lives – such as poverty and unemployment – will not improve. So, high poverty levels lead some to prioritise daily survival over voting, while others engage in vote-buying, selling their franchise for immediate financial gain.”
He lamented that some religious groups such as Jehovah’s Witnesses that remain apolitical for doctrinal reasons are detrimental to effective leadership choice at the poll. He thus maintained that voter apathy is a threat to democracy in Nigeria.
“Nigerians should wake up from their slumber. People think they have genuine reasons for voter apathy, but they have to be told how dangerous it is for the future of our children. The situation is bad. People should know that politics determines everything about them,” he stressed.
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