832
By Tracy Moses
Former Vice President of Nigeria and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has raised alarm over what he described as the “disturbingly low” voter turnout recorded in Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, warning that democracy in Nigeria is being “strangled.”
Reacting to the exercise in a statement issued on Sunday, Atiku said the turnout, which reportedly averaged below 20 per cent across the councils, with the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) recording about 7.8 per cent, reflects a deepening crisis of confidence in the country’s democratic system.
According to him, such poor civic participation in the nation’s capital, “the symbolic heartbeat of the federation”, should worry all defenders of democracy.
“When citizens stay away from the ballot box in such numbers, especially in the Federal Capital Territory, it is not something to dismiss lightly,” Atiku said. “This is not mere voter apathy. It is a loud and troubling statement about the state of our democracy.”
The former Vice President attributed the development to what he described as a shrinking democratic space under the administration of President Bola Tinubu. “What we are witnessing is the steady strangulation of democracy,” he stated.
“An environment where opposition voices are harassed, dissent is treated as disloyalty, and alternative viewpoints are seen as threats cannot inspire public confidence.”
He further alleged that the current political climate has been marked by intimidation and coercion, which, he argued, discourages meaningful participation in the democratic process.
“A democracy thrives on competition, plurality of ideas, and respect for divergent opinions,” Atiku said. “When these are undermined, when political actors are pressured or silenced, citizens begin to lose faith that their votes truly matter.”
Describing the situation as dangerous, the Waziri Adamawa warned that continued erosion of participatory governance could have long-term consequences for the country.
“A democracy without vibrant opposition and without the trust of its citizens is democracy in name only,” he said. “If this trend continues unchecked, history may record this period as one in which our hard-earned freedoms were gradually traded for fear and conformity.”
Atiku therefore called on opposition parties and pro-democracy groups across the country to unite in defence of the Republic.
“This moment transcends party lines,” he declared.
“It is about safeguarding the integrity of our democratic institutions and restoring hope in the electoral process. The time to close ranks and work together to rescue and rebuild Nigeria is now.”
He urged the government to take deliberate steps to rebuild public trust, ensure a level playing field for all political actors, and protect the rights of citizens to freely participate in governance.
“Democracy must breathe,” Atiku concluded. “And it is the responsibility of all of us, leaders and citizens alike, to ensure that it does not suffocate under the weight of intolerance and exclusion.”