Abuja:More than 84% of Nigerians express an intention to vote in the 2027 general elections despite facing significant challenges, according to a survey by Yiaga Africa. The organization emphasizes the need for political parties to engage citizens and counteract issues such as insecurity, distrust, and vote-buying that threaten voter turnout.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the survey was based on interviews with 2,470 Nigerians from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Hussein Abdul, Yiaga Africa Board Chairman, highlighted that the study explores Nigerians’ readiness, motivations, and expectations for the elections. The survey found that insecurity and fears of election-related violence, coupled with low confidence in key institutions like INEC and the judiciary, could influence voters’ decisions.
The findings are intended as a wake-up call for stakeholders, including INEC, security agencies, political parties, and civil society organizations, to address these pressing concerns. Abdul urged political entities to mobilize voters and enhance civic education, noting that low voter turnout undermines democracy despite having over 100 million registered voters.
The survey revealed that 61% of respondents feared violence might prevent them from voting, a figure that rises to 78% in the North-East region. Additionally, 83% of those surveyed called for improved security measures. Trust in INEC is declining, with only 34% of respondents confident in the possibility of credible elections and 63% expressing little or no faith in judicial resolutions of electoral disputes.
Furthermore, 54% of respondents disapproved of the President’s performance, and 71% rated the economy poorly. A significant 49% of voters indicated a desire for leadership change as their motivation. The report recommends that the government and security agencies bolster election security and that INEC, the judiciary, political parties, media, and civil society work on enhancing election credibility and voter confidence while combating vote-buying.
Safiya Bichi, Head of Knowledge Management and Learning at Yiaga Africa, noted that while Nigerians remain committed to democracy, they want their votes to count. The main obstacles are fear, distrust, and financial influence. Bichi stressed that low turnout is a conversion issue rather than an apathy problem, with responsibility resting on institutions controlling security, credibility, and logistics.
During a panel discussion, Ene Obi, Executive Director of the Ene Obi Centre for Development, expressed optimism that Nigeria could improve its electoral process with citizens’ active participation and vote protection. The panel emphasized the importance of encouraging citizens to vote and ensuring the process is fair and transparent, particularly regarding internally displaced persons and areas marked as ungovernable.
Chief Ezenwa Nwagwu, Executive Director of the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Center in Africa (PAACA), urged the media to highlight the positive aspect of the survey showing an 84% willingness to vote. He advocated for investment in political reforms beyond electoral reforms, pointing out that the values and attitudes of politicians also impact electoral integrity.
Mrs. Victoria Efa-Mesi, Director of Voter Education and Publicity for INEC, assured that INEC was prepared for the 2027 elections and called on Nigerians to uphold their civic responsibilities.