Atiku Abubakar Sounds Alarm on Nigeria's Democratic Health After FCT Council Elections
Former Vice President of Nigeria and prominent figure in the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has delivered a stark nationwide message following the recent Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections. In a strongly worded statement released on Monday, February 23, 2026, Atiku expressed grave concerns about the state of Nigeria's democracy under the current administration led by President Bola Tinubu.
Low Voter Turnout Raises Democratic Red Flags
The Waziri Adamawa pointed specifically to what he described as alarmingly low voter participation in Saturday's FCT elections, with turnout averaging below 20 percent across the six area councils. Most concerning was the Abuja Municipal Area Council, which recorded a mere 7.8 percent participation rate. Atiku characterized these figures as deeply troubling and indicative of broader democratic challenges facing the nation.
"When citizens lose faith that their votes matter, democracy begins to die," Atiku declared in his statement. "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."
Accusations of Democratic Space Shrinking Under Tinubu
Atiku directly accused President Tinubu's All Progressives Congress-led government of deliberately shrinking Nigeria's democratic space through systematic intimidation and suppression of opposition voices. He argued that the administration has fostered a hostile political climate characterized by intolerance toward dissent and the gradual weakening of alternative viewpoints.
According to the former vice president, the current government has pursued policies that harass political dissenters, pressure opposition actors, and treat alternative perspectives as threats rather than legitimate contributions to national development. He maintained that this environment has actively discouraged citizens from participating in electoral processes, leading to the concerning turnout figures witnessed in the nation's capital.
Warning of Long-Term Democratic Damage
Atiku cautioned that continued erosion of participatory governance could inflict lasting harm on Nigeria's democratic system, which has been built over decades of struggle and progress. He emphasized that democracy requires vibrant opposition, free political competition, and public confidence to function properly.
"A democracy without vibrant opposition, without free political competition, and without public confidence is democracy in name only," Atiku 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."
Call for Opposition Unity to Preserve the Republic
In his nationwide address, Atiku issued a passionate appeal for opposition parties and pro-democracy groups across Nigeria to set aside their differences and unite in defense of democratic values. He framed the current situation as transcending ordinary political competition and becoming a matter of national preservation.
"This is no longer about party lines; it is about preserving the Republic," Atiku asserted. "The time to stand together to rescue and rebuild Nigeria is now."
The statement, issued by the Atiku Media Office in Abuja and dated February 22, 2026, represents one of the most direct and comprehensive critiques of the Tinubu administration's approach to democracy from a major opposition figure. Atiku's message comes at a critical juncture as Nigeria continues to navigate complex political and governance challenges.
