Former Vice President of Nigeria and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has described the low voter turnout in the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections as evidence that Nigeria’s democracy is “under siege” and called for concerted action by democratic forces nationwide.
Atiku’s remarks came in response to the FCT polls held on February 21, 2026, where overall participation was reported to be below 20 per cent, and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) recorded about 7.8 per cent turnout.
The FCT Area Council elections were organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fill chairmanship and councillor positions across the six area councils in the Federal Capital Territory, including AMAC, Bwari and Gwagwalada.
Atiku issued his comments in a statement from his media office in Abuja on February 22, 2026, titled “Democracy Under Siege: Tinubu’s Chokehold Is Suffocating the Republic”.
In his statement, the former vice president said the low level of civic participation in Nigeria’s capital, the symbolic heart of the federation, was not accidental but the outcome of “a political environment poisoned by intolerance, intimidation, and the systematic weakening of opposition voices.”
According to Atiku, the administration led by President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) has pursued policies he said have shrunk democratic space, harassed dissenters, coerced defectors and fostered a climate where alternative political viewpoints are treated as threats rather than contributions to national development.
Atiku stated: “When citizens lose faith that their votes matter, democracy begins to die. What we are witnessing is not mere voter apathy. It is a direct consequence of an administration that governs with a chokehold on pluralism. Democracy in Nigeria is being suffocated slowly, steadily, and dangerously.”
He also said a democracy without vibrant opposition, free competition and public confidence is “democracy in name only,” and warned that continued erosion of participatory governance could inflict damage on Nigeria’s democratic foundations.
Atiku urged opposition parties and democratic forces across the country to close ranks and build a united front. He said, “This is no longer about party lines; it is about preserving the Republic.”
The former vice president’s comments frame the low turnout in the FCT polls as a wider issue affecting democratic engagement in Nigeria.
Participation rates below 20 per cent in local government elections could have implications for public confidence in electoral processes and civic participation.
Atiku’s call for unity among opposition parties reflects broader debates about governance, political competitiveness and citizen trust ahead of future elections.
His remarks contribute to ongoing national discussions about democratic health and political participation in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
