Voter apathy, money politics threaten Nigeria's democracy, say IPCR and Search for Common Ground
via Punch Nigeria10 min read
The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution IPCR and Search for Common Ground have issued a warning that voter apathy and the monetization of politics pose significant threats to Nigeria's democratic stability. Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, Director-General of IPCR, and Gift Omoniwa, Director of Programmes at Search for Common Ground, highlighted these concerns during a joint press conference in Abuja to commemorate Nigeria's 2026 Democracy Day. They stated that challenges to Nigerian democracy stem from insufficient citizen participation and a weak democratic culture, rather than inherent flaws in democracy itself. Dr. Ochogwu noted that findings from IPCR's assessments consistently link pressures on the democratic system to deficits in civic engagement. He emphasized that citizens' disengagement creates opportunities for manipulation, exclusion, misinformation, electoral malpractice, and instability. Key drivers of voter apathy identified include declining trust in institutions, fear of electoral violence, misinformation, unfulfilled governance expectations, and the perception that individual votes lack influence. Dr. Ochogwu urged Nigerians, especially young people, to actively participate in electoral and governance processes, viewing elections as a means to exercise sovereignty and hold governments accountable. He also described the monetization of politics as a systemic issue that disenfranchises large segments of the population, particularly where wealth disparity is signifi
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