2027 Elections: KDI Warns Voter Apathy May Worsen as Nigerians Lose Faith in Their Votes

Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), a democracy advocacy group, has warned that growing doubts about whether votes will count could discourage Nigerians from participating in the 2027 general elections. The organisation said the trend could worsen voter apathy and weaken public participation in the democratic process.

Umar Dan’Assabe Muhammed, KDI’s Senior Programme Manager for Democratic Accountability and Elections, raised the concern on Thursday while speaking on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese-Ijebu. His comments were monitored by DAILY POST in Abeokuta.

Muhammed said low voter turnout had remained a major challenge for Nigeria’s democracy since the return to civilian rule in 1999. He attributed the decline to public disappointment with elected officials and dissatisfaction with governance, while also criticising the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over factors he said had discouraged participation.

He identified difficulties with Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection, inadequate voter education and fears of electoral violence as additional barriers. According to him, some eligible voters struggle to reach collection centres because of distance and cost, while others lack the information needed to complete the process.

Muhammed also observed that some Nigerians register as voters mainly to obtain identification rather than to participate in elections. However, he welcomed improvements introduced by INEC, including online registration options that allow applicants to complete some stages before appearing physically for biometric capture and PVC collection.

He urged INEC, the National Orientation Agency, political parties, civil society organisations and the media to intensify voter education ahead of the 2027 polls. He said citizens, particularly young people, should be encouraged to complete the necessary registration steps and take part in elections.

The KDI official also criticised political parties for concentrating on attacks against opponents instead of addressing issues affecting Nigerians. He cited Peter Obi’s campaign during the 2023 presidential election as an example of social media’s ability to encourage political participation, while cautioning that online popularity does not automatically translate into votes.

Muhammed further identified physical attacks, destruction of campaign materials and vote buying as practices that could undermine confidence in elections. He called on electoral authorities, security agencies, political parties and citizens to work together to improve voter education, strengthen public trust and promote peaceful participation in the 2027 general elections.