The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has identified election violence, misinformation, vote buying and declining public trust as major factors weakening Nigerians’ confidence in the country’s electoral process.
The Director of Civic, Values and Democracy Education at the NOA, Olukemi Afolayan, raised the concern on Thursday in Abuja during an election roundtable organised by Create Studio Nigeria and the Humanitarian Foundation for Social Justice.
The event, themed “Reclaiming Our Vote: Enfranchising a New Generation of Voters,” focused on ways to restore citizens’ confidence in elections and encourage greater participation, particularly among young Nigerians.
Afolayan said the growing belief among some citizens that their votes would not significantly influence election outcomes was contributing to voter apathy.
She noted that election-related violence and the spread of misinformation could further discourage citizens from participating in the electoral process, while vote buying could undermine the credibility of elections and weaken the value attached to voters’ choices.
According to her, rebuilding public confidence requires stronger civic education, greater awareness of citizens’ electoral rights and responsibilities, as well as efforts to promote transparency and accountability throughout the electoral process.
Afolayan stressed the importance of engaging young Nigerians and encouraging them to see their participation as an important part of shaping the country’s democratic future.
She urged stakeholders, civil society organisations and relevant institutions to work together to address the challenges discouraging citizens from voting and to create an electoral environment where voters can participate without fear or undue influence.
The roundtable brought stakeholders together to discuss practical measures for increasing voter participation and strengthening Nigerians’ trust in democracy.
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