Nigeria’s Voter Turnout Crisis Deepens — INEC Voices Serious Concern
The Chief Technical Adviser to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Bolade Eyinla, has expressed concern over Nigeria’s declining voter turnout, warning that elections in which less than half of registered voters participate are “tainted by a shadow of legitimacy.”
Speaking in Abuja at the YIAGA Africa 2027 Elections Scenarios and Election Manipulation Risks in Red Retreat, Prof. Eyinla described the trend as troubling and urged all stakeholders to prioritize voter mobilization and public trust in the electoral process.
According to him, voter turnout in Nigeria’s presidential elections has been on a steady decline over the past decade, falling from 53.7 percent in 2011 to 26.7 percent in 2023.
“An election in which less than 50 percent of registered voters come out to vote is tainted by a shadow of legitimacy,” Eyinla said.
“The percentage of voters turning out to exercise their franchise should be a matter of concern to all electoral stakeholders and citizens.”
He attributed the downward trend to multiple factors, including the introduction of technology for voter authentication—such as the Smart Card Reader (SCR) in 2015 and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in 2023—which made multiple voting and ballot box stuffing more difficult.
Eyinla also cited voter apathy, loss of trust in the electoral process, and disillusionment with governance outcomes as key reasons for the low participation.
“Many citizens believe their votes do not count, while others, especially among the elite, are unwilling to endure the inconveniences of voting,” he noted.
He urged INEC to make the voting experience more pleasant by removing known barriers to voter participation, while calling on political actors, civil society groups, and the media to intensify voter education and mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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Constitutional Amendment Before 2027 ‘Not Feasible’ — Eyinla
Prof. Eyinla further stated that calls to review the process of appointing the INEC Chairman, National Commissioners, and Resident Electoral Commissioners — particularly by removing the President’s appointing powers — were not feasible before 2027, given the extensive process required to amend the Constitution.
He revealed that following the review of the 2023 general elections, INEC adopted 142 recommendations to strengthen the electoral process.
Out of these, some have been implemented administratively, while others requiring legislative input have been submitted to the National Assembly for consideration.
“It is another matter entirely if the Assembly will act expeditiously and do the needful,” he said, emphasizing the urgency of legislative action on electoral reforms before INEC releases the 2027 election timetable in February 2026.
Eyinla specifically highlighted key areas that require legislative attention, including:
• Early voting for officials, security personnel, observers, and journalists on election duty;
• Review of Section 47(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates presentation of a PVC to vote; and
• Making electronic transmission of results mandatory.
He stressed that a stable and predictable legal framework is crucial to guide INEC’s operations and the activities of political parties during primaries and candidate nominations.
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Stakeholder Collaboration Critical
The INEC adviser disclosed that the Commission is working with relevant stakeholders to implement 48 other recommendations from the 2023 elections review that involve the judiciary, security agencies, political parties, media, and civil society organizations.
“The effective implementation of these recommendations will require coordinated action by all key actors in the electoral process,” he added.
Eyinla reiterated that the Commission remains committed to continuous improvement of Nigeria’s electoral system to restore public confidence and strengthen democratic legitimacy.
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