‘It’s Becoming Selection, Not Election’ – CISLAC, TMG Warn Over Apathy and Irregularities In FCT, Rivers, Kano Polls
When citizens stop showing up at the polls, democracy quietly loses its voice.
That was the stark warning from civil society groups as concerns mounted over voter apathy and alleged irregularities in recent elections in the FCT, Rivers and Kano states.
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) said turnout was worryingly low in many polling units, with some recording barely 10 voters all day.
The groups warned that shrinking participation signals growing public distrust in the electoral process.
Observers also flagged late deployment of materials in parts of Abuja, accessibility barriers for persons with disabilities in Kwali and Abaji, and alleged voter suppression targeting women in crowded communities.
Incidents of vote buying and confusion over relocated polling units were also reported.
CISLAC and TMG further accused the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, of inappropriate involvement after he reportedly visited multiple polling units, describing the move as capable of undermining public confidence.
In Rivers, a heavy security presence was said to have discouraged turnout, while in Kano and Rivers, the absence of major parties from bye-election ballots raised questions about fairness.
The groups also cited disruptions on INEC’s IReV portal during collation.
They urged INEC to fix logistics, improve transparency and safeguard inclusion ahead of future elections, warning that failure to act could further erode trust in Nigeria’s democracy.
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