Abuja, Nigeria — Former Nigerian Vice President and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has stirred political debate this evening by describing Nigeria’s democratic condition as being “under siege,” following the exceptionally low voter turnout in last Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections. The damning remarks by the seasoned politician reflect growing concerns over civic disengagement and the broader health of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
In an official statement released by his media office in Abuja on Sunday, Atiku said the average voter turnout — recorded at below 20 percent across the FCT councils, with the most stark figure of just 7.8 percent in the Abuja Municipal Area Council — is a “damning verdict” on contemporary Nigerian politics. He emphasised that such dismal participation in the nation’s capital, widely regarded as the symbolic heartbeat of the federation, should not be dismissed as mere apathy but interpreted as symptomatic of deeper political malaise.
Atiku argued that this trend was not accidental, but rather the predictable outcome of a political environment he said has been “poisoned by intolerance, intimidation, and the systematic weakening of opposition voices” under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC). He accused the federal government of shrinking democratic space, harassing dissenters, and fostering a climate where alternative viewpoints are treated as threats rather than contributions to national development.
“When citizens lose faith that their votes matter, democracy begins to die,” Atiku said in his statement. “This is not mere voter apathy. Democracy in Nigeria is being suffocated — slowly, steadily, and dangerously.” He warned that if the erosion of participatory governance continues unchecked, it could inflict long-term damage on the democratic foundations painstakingly built over decades.
The former vice president insisted that a democracy bereft of vibrant opposition, free political competition, and widespread public confidence is “democracy in name only.” He cautioned that history might ultimately record the current era as one in which Nigeria’s hard-won freedoms were traded for fear and conformity if inclusive political participation were not restored.
To counter what he described as creeping authoritarian tendencies, Atiku urged opposition parties and democratic forces nationwide to close ranks and cultivate unity. “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 said, calling for coordinated political action ahead of the 2027 general elections.
As of publication, the Tinubu administration has not issued an official response to Atiku’s assertions, but political analysts suggest the remarks will intensify pressure on both the ruling party and electoral stakeholders to address declining civic engagement and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral processes.