Former Vice President of Nigeria and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has expressed deep concern over the alarmingly low voter turnout in Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, describing the figures as a clear indictment of the state of Nigeria’s democracy under the present administration.

Official results showed an average turnout of below 20 per cent across the six area councils, with the Abuja Municipal Area Council recording a particularly dismal 7.8 per cent.

Atiku described this as “a damning verdict” on the health of the nation’s democratic process, especially in the symbolic capital city that represents the heartbeat of the federation.

He attributed the widespread disengagement not to voter apathy, but to a deliberate and sustained assault on democratic norms by the Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

According to the former Vice President, the low participation is the predictable result of a political atmosphere marked by intolerance, intimidation, harassment of dissenters, coercion of political defectors, and the systematic stifling of opposition voices.

“When citizens lose faith that their votes matter, democracy begins to die,” Atiku declared. “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 cautioned that the ongoing erosion of participatory governance, if allowed to continue unchecked, risks inflicting irreversible damage on the democratic institutions and freedoms built over decades through sacrifice and struggle.

“A democracy without vibrant opposition, without free political competition, and without public confidence is democracy in name only,” he warned. “If this chokehold is not released, history will record this era as the period when our hard-won freedoms were traded for fear and conformity.”

Atiku called on all opposition parties, civil society organisations, and democratic forces nationwide to urgently set aside differences and form a united front to defend the Republic.

“This is no longer about party lines; it is about preserving the Republic,” he emphasised. “The time to stand together to rescue and rebuild Nigeria is now.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed it will soon release a revised timetable and schedule of activities for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections to ensure full alignment with the recently enacted Electoral Act 2026.

The announcement comes after INEC initially set the presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, February 20, 2027, and the governorship and state Houses of Assembly polls for Saturday, March 6, 2027, in a notice released on February 13, 2026.

Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, stated that the commission is reviewing the new Act and will publish a “revised timetable” accordingly.

This follows legislative amendments, including a reduction in the mandatory notice period for elections from 360 days to 300 days under revised Clause 28 of the Act, granting INEC greater flexibility in scheduling to avoid potential conflicts, such as overlaps with religious observances like Ramadan in 2027.

Political party leaders and stakeholders have pushed for the review, emphasizing the need for compliance with the updated legal framework. INEC has also debunked circulating false claims about an official timetable release, reiterating that the authentic schedule will be issued in due course and in strict adherence to constitutional provisions and the Electoral Act.

The forthcoming timetable is expected to detail critical milestones, including party primaries, campaign periods, voter registration updates, and ongoing nationwide voter revalidation efforts aimed at enhancing electoral integrity ahead of the polls.

INEC assured Nigerians that preparations for the 2027 elections are progressing steadily, with the revised timetable set to provide clarity and guide all stakeholders.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Saturday began monitoring of the ongoing FCT Area Council elections at Lagos Crescent, Garki, where he urged traders and residents to comply with electoral guidelines to ensure a smooth process.

Addressing stakeholders in the area, the minister stressed the need for orderliness and full adherence to directives issued for the conduct of the polls.

Wike thereafter visited other polling units across Abuja to assess the level of preparedness and compliance.

He called on residents to come out en masse to exercise their franchise, assuring them of adequate security and a transparent electoral process.