***Raises alarm over voter intimidation, political violence, abuse of public office

***Says 77% of Nigerians are dissatisfied with democracy, only 23% trust INEC

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has warned that Nigeria’s democracy is at a critical crossroads ahead of the 2027 general elections, citing rising voter intimidation, inflammatory political rhetoric, electoral violence and abuse of public office.

The group also lamented the failure of institutions to hold powerful political actors accountable.

The group gave the warning on in Abuja at a press conference to mark the 2026 International Day of Democracy, chaired by its Convener, Yunusa Z. Ya’u, alongside Co-Conveners Mma Odi and Celestine Odo.

The Situation Room said the credibility of the 2027 elections would not be determined on election day alone, but by the political environment, conduct of political actors, preparedness and independence of democratic institutions, as well as safeguards put in place in the months leading to the elections.

It said Nigeria was entering a decisive phase in its democratic development and could not afford to approach the 2027 elections as business as usual.

According to the organisation, recent public opinion surveys and international governance assessments paint a troubling picture of Nigerians’ experience of democracy and governance.

It cited Afrobarometer as reporting that 77 per cent of Nigerians were dissatisfied with the way democracy was working, while only 23 per cent expressed trust in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The group stressed that the figures did not mean Nigerians had abandoned democracy, noting that 64 per cent still considered democracy preferable to any other form of government.

It said the figures instead pointed to what it described as a crisis of democratic delivery, institutional trust and accountability.

The Situation Room said: “Nigeria does not face a crisis of citizens’ desire for democracy as much as a crisis of democratic delivery, institutional trust and accountability.”

It also cited the V-Dem Institute’s classification of Nigeria as an electoral autocracy and the Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance, which ranked Nigeria 33rd out of 54 African countries in its 2024 index, compared with 30th previously.

The group said the findings showed a widening gap between citizens’ expectations of democracy and their experience of it.

It added that while Nigerians continued to value democratic government, many were increasingly dissatisfied with its performance and distrustful of institutions expected to protect their rights.

The Situation Room said the situation was further complicated by what it described as a deterioration in the political environment, with increasingly hostile rhetoric, threats, intimidation and violence being used to suppress opposition and constrain political participation.

It cited the recently concluded Osun State governorship election as raising concerns about intimidation and violence, including reports of threats and coercion involving high-ranking political officeholders.

The organisation warned that when people entrusted with public authority became associated with conduct that undermined democratic participation, the consequences went beyond individual incidents and could erode confidence in the political system.

The Situation Room identified six critical threats requiring urgent attention.

They include institutional failure and a culture of impunity; voter intimidation and inflammatory political rhetoric; forced disenfranchisement and threats of displacement; weaponisation of public office; weaponisation of ethnicity and religion; and political thuggery, obstruction and voter suppression.

On institutional accountability, the organisation called on INEC, security agencies, prosecutorial authorities and the Judiciary to demonstrate greater independence, urgency and effectiveness in responding to violations.

It said allegations of electoral offences, incitement, intimidation or violence involving politically influential individuals must be investigated impartially, transparently and expeditiously.

“A democracy cannot survive where the powerful are permitted to violate the rules with impunity while ordinary citizens bear the consequences,” it said.

The group also expressed concern over threats allegedly directed at citizens because of their political choices, including threats of physical harm, loss of livelihood and displacement.

It condemned reports of directives threatening citizens to “vote APC or leave the community,” saying such conduct, if established, would represent a serious violation of citizens’ constitutional rights and freedoms.

“The right to vote belongs to the citizen. It is not a privilege granted by a political party, local government chairman, governor or any other public official,” it said.

The organisation equally condemned reports of threats to remove elected local government officials unless they delivered electoral victories for particular political interests.

It warned that government appointments, removals, administrative powers and public resources must not be deployed to compel political loyalty or secure electoral advantage.

On ethnicity and religion, the Situation Room said their increasing use as instruments of political mobilisation posed a threat to national cohesion and democratic participation.

It urged political leaders, religious and traditional authorities, the media and other influential voices to promote peaceful coexistence and respect for equal citizenship.

As part of its recommendations, the Situation Room called for the enforcement of electoral laws and prosecution of violations.

It urged INEC, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services and other law enforcement agencies to apply relevant provisions of the Electoral Act impartially and decisively.