Prominent political leaders and scholars have raised fresh concerns over the health of Nigeria’s democracy, warning that poverty, cash politics, partisan manipulation of electoral laws and rising voter apathy could undermine the credibility of future elections if urgent corrective steps are not taken.

These warnings came at the weekend, during a high-level policy dialogue, Boiling Point Arena, where participants examined the implications of the recent amendments to Nigeria’s Electoral Law ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The panellists on the popular discourse transmitted via Zoom and broadcast live on seven radio stations were former Niger State Governor, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu; a governorship aspirant in Ogun State, Segun Showunmi and Prof. Olugbenro Oyekan, a scholar at the University of Oxford, England.

Aliyu, who said worsening poverty across the country had become a powerful instrument for electoral manipulation, stated that many politicians now exploit the frustration of citizens to influence voting outcomes.

Also speaking, Showunmi focused on the growing problem of voter apathy, which he described as one of the most serious threats to Nigeria’s democratic future.

Showunmi blamed the political elite for what he termed the “demarketing” of democracy through broken promises, manipulation of party primaries and widespread vote buying.

He noted that declining participation in elections reflects the deepening loss of faith in the political system, pointing to the roughly 29 per cent voter turnout recorded in recent off-cycle elections as evidence of widespread public disengagement.

Showunmi also criticised lawmakers for what he described as self-serving legislative practices.

On his part, the United Kingdom (UK)-based scholar, Oyekan, while offering an international perspective, maintained that periodic amendments to electoral laws are necessary for strengthening democratic processes, but warned that such reforms must not be driven by narrow political interests.

“Constant review does not mean people should not trust the process,” he said, noting that electoral systems must evolve to confront challenges, such as money politics and emerging political manipulations.

Oyekan, however, cautioned that the credibility of reforms depends largely on the sincerity of political actors.