The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) has issued a stark warning that voter apathy and the pervasive monetisation of politics are threatening the sustainability of Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement released Thursday, the institute highlighted declining voter turnout across recent electoral cycles as evidence of eroding public confidence in the democratic process. It noted that citizens increasingly view elections as transactional exercises rather than genuine opportunities for civic participation.
The IPCR identified money politics as a particularly corrosive force, arguing that the exorbitant cost of seeking office has created barriers that exclude qualified but less affluent candidates while encouraging corruption and vote-buying among those who secure power.
” When elections become auctions rather than contests of ideas, democratic representation is fundamentally compromised,” the institute stated.
The warning comes as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with analysts noting that primary elections have already witnessed unprecedented financial inducements. The IPCR called for urgent electoral reforms including campaign finance regulation, civic education programmes, and strengthened enforcement of anti-vote-buying laws.
The institute urged political actors, civil society and the Independent National Electoral Commission to prioritise democratic deepening over partisan advantage, warning that continued erosion of public trust could push disillusioned citizens toward non-democratic alternatives.
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