ZARIA, KADUNA – A shocking 125,345 registered voters in Zaria Kewaye Constituency, Kaduna State, boycotted a recent bye-election, triggering concerns about a growing crisis of voter apathy in Nigeria. The Think Right Youths Forum (TRYF) has described the low turnout as a “troubling development,” urging a national conversation on electoral reforms to restore public trust.
According to official figures from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), only 39,045 out of 164,390 registered voters participated in the poll. This represents a mere 23.8% turnout, a drastic drop from the 40.1% recorded during the 2023 general election.
“The real issue is not which party emerged victorious, but the deafening silence of the majority who stayed away,” said Sagir Baba Nationalist, National Chairman of TRYF. “When 125,000 voters abandon the ballot in the political heartland of Nigeria’s Speaker of the House of Representatives, a serving Federal Minister, the LGA Chairman and other top officials, the alarm bells are deafening.”
The APC secured the win with 26,613 votes, followed by the SDP with 5,721 and the PDP with 5,331. However, a comparative analysis by TRYF reveals a significant shift in voter behavior. The PDP lost over 80% of its 2023 votes in the constituency, while the APC’s vote count also declined by 23%. This suggests a widespread disengagement, particularly among PDP supporters. The emergence of the SDP as a new contender is seen as an indication that a segment of the electorate is seeking alternative political options.
The forum’s report points to a variety of potential causes for the low turnout, including voter fatigue, a lack of trust in the electoral process, and strategic non-participation. The fact that the constituency is a political stronghold for several high-profile officials makes the mass abstention even more disconcerting.
TRYF is calling for immediate and comprehensive action from all stakeholders. The group has implored INEC to intensify its voter engagement campaigns and has urged the Executive and National Assembly to enact “far-reaching reforms” to rebuild public confidence in elections.
“Democracy cannot thrive on apathy,” the statement concluded. “Unless decisive action is taken, silence may well become the loudest voice in our democratic journey.”
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