Election Violence, Vote-Buying Threaten Public Trust in Electoral System, Says NOA

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has warned that electoral violence, vote-buying, misinformation, and declining public trust are severely eroding citizens’ confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.

Speaking at an election roundtable in Abuja themed “Reclaiming Our Vote: Enfranchising a New Generation of Voters,” NOA Director of Civic, Values, and Democracy Education, Olukemi Afolayan, highlighted how growing voter apathy particularly among youth stems from a belief that votes no longer impact outcomes.

Afolayan emphasized that restoring trust is critical to reversing low turnout, urging young Nigerians to look beyond voting and equip themselves with civic values. She called on citizens to reject financial inducements, combat misinformation, avoid election-related violence, and hold political actors to issue-based campaigns.

The event, organized by Create Studio Nigeria and the Humanitarian Foundation for Social Justice, also featured perspectives on leadership reform. University scholar Prof. Ajibade Michael advocated for an age limit on political leadership, proposing that leadership roles focus on individuals between 25 and 70 years old to ensure leaders remain agile and responsive to modern challenges.

Adding to the discussions, Executive Director of the Humanitarian Foundation for Social Justice, Adekunle Adebanjo, stressed that democracy must ultimately lead to tangible improvements in living conditions and economic opportunities for citizens.