The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has warned that declining voter turnout in Nigeria is evolving from a civic issue into a matter of national security.
Amupitan made the remarks on Thursday in Abuja while speaking at the second annual lecture of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies (AANISS), where he highlighted the broader implications of voter apathy on governance and stability.
“Despite the peaceful conduct of the FCT council polls, where turnout improved from 9.4 percent to 15 percent, voter apathy remains a sobering challenge,” he said.
The INEC chairman noted that the steady decline in voter participation over the years reflects a troubling trend that could undermine democratic legitimacy.
“Dropping from 53 percent in 2011 to 26 percent in 2023, low turnout is more than a civic concern, it is a security risk. Apathy creates a narrative vacuum that non-state actors fill to delegitimise the government,” he said.
Amupitan stressed that credible elections are closely tied to national security, explaining that trust in the electoral process plays a key role in preventing post-election tensions and unrest.
“When citizens believe in the electoral process, they are more likely to accept the outcomes, reducing the tensions that can lead to unrest,” he added.
He also identified emerging threats to the integrity of elections in Nigeria, particularly the growing influence of technology and misinformation.
“Today, Nigeria faces a sophisticated triad of electoral challenges: the convergence of social media volatility, the weaponisation of AI-driven disinformation, foreign information manipulation (FIMI) and logistic deficits,” he said.
Amupitan, however, assured Nigerians that the commission is taking steps to strengthen the credibility and transparency of future elections, especially ahead of the 2027 general polls.
He said key technological tools, including the bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) and the INEC result viewing portal (IReV), remain central to efforts aimed at safeguarding the electoral process.
The INEC chairman called for stronger collaboration among the commission, security agencies, civil society organisations and the electorate, emphasising the collective responsibility required to ensure credible and peaceful elections.
“An election is only as good as its logistics, and only as peaceful as its security,” he said.