The LEAD Project Foundation: Nigeria: Political Parties and Candidates Database

The LEAD Project Foundation: Nigeria: Political Parties and Candidates Database:  There are 22 Registered Political Parties in Nigeria. Click on this link to see the list of Political Parties:  List of Political Parties i...

The LEAD Project Foundation: INEC offices and Polling location data

The LEAD Project Foundation: INEC offices and Polling location data:  Total Voters Registered: 93,469,008. Polling Units in Nigeria:      176,846. INEC State and Local Government Area Offices :  INEC State ...

The LEAD Project Foundation: List of Political Parties in Nigeria

The LEAD Project Foundation: List of Political Parties in Nigeria:   The Federal Republic of Nigeria has a multi-party system. There are 22 registered political parties in Nigeria. The frontline Political Pa...

Nigeria's Youth-friendly Civic and Voter Education Manual

 

"Voters education is not only the correct but also the most appropriate way to improve participation in a democracy compared to any other alternative"-ACE.

Click on this link to download the Youth-friendly version of the Civic and Voter Education Manual: 

Civic and Voter Education Manual

The LEAD Project Foundation: List of National Legislators -Senate and House of ...

The LEAD Project Foundation: List of National Legislators -Senate and House of ...: Stay up-to -date with all legislative activities in Nigeria. Click on this link to see the list of the members of the national assembly:  Fi...

Electoral Authoritarianism is the greatest threat to democracy in Africa

 

"There is a deliberate attempt by the ruling APC Party to exclude significant political opponents from the ballot box, utilising the capture of INEC and state institutions. INEC's  rush to validate the Wike-faction during the PDP convention is evidence that it functions as a parastatal of the ruling APC party. If the people do not rise to take their country back, democracy will come to an end. The one thing the APC ruling party does not want to see is the people's votes, given the high misery index it has imposed"-Professor Pat Utomi. Renowned Political Economist. Video: Youtube.

 Nigeria's Independent Electoral Commission-INEC's recent decision to delist Principal Officers of the opposition ADC Party in Nigeria from the INEC's portal, has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the 2027  Presidential and General elections in Nigeria. The opposition ADC party has accused the election management body of yielding to government manipulation to diminish the chances of opposition participation in the next elections. According to Channels TV; the party's National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, accused the electoral body of yielding to political pressure. He alleged that INEC's position was influenced by a government unsettled by the ADC's growing influence, despite what he described as sustained efforts to weaken opposition parties and impose a one-party system. "We reject INEC's interpretation of the Court of Appeal ruling. We knew that INEC was being pressured by a government that has become jittery from the ADC's rising momentum, even in the face of its relentless assault on all opposition parties". He described INEC's statement as inconsistent, arguing that it contradicts both facts and logic. Similarly, Punch newspaper, reported that former Presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party-PDP, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, also criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission for seeking to undermine the integrity of elections in Nigeria by helping the ruling party to erase electoral competition. Reacting in a statement, Hayatu-Deen warned that Nigeria's democracy risks serious erosion if the integrity of the electoral process is undermined. He expressed deep concerns about what he described as 'shrinking democratic space, cautioning that measures capable of excluding legitimate political participation could erode public trust in elections. "When a commission charged with protecting participation instead restricts it, we must ask: in whose interest does it act?, referring specifically to INEC's recent move to revalidate the national voters register and its decision not to engage with or receive correspondence from the opposition ADC party led by David Mark. He warned that such actions carry serious consequences for democracy. 

"Any action that potentially disenfranchises voters or prevents a political party from fielding candidates strikes at the core of democratic rights. Democracy is not merely a calendar of elections. It is a covenant, one that demands equal access, transparent rules, and the unshakable confidence of citizens that the process is fair". He cautioned that once public confidence is weakened, the damage extends far beyond a single election. "Once that confidence is undermined, the legitimacy of every outcome that follows is called into question. Nigeria cannot afford that erosion. Weaken the institutions, and you weaken the nation's capacity to heal itself". He warned that democratic decline often occurs quietly. "The gradual erosion of democratic norms is rarely dramatic. It announces itself in quiet exclusions and in institutions that bend just enough to serve power. But the consequences, when they fully arrive, are often devastating". He urged those in authority to act with restraint and fidelity to the rule of law, and urged Nigerians across political divides to remain vigilant. "The preservation of our democracy of our democracy is not the work of any single party or person, it is a shared responsibility". Incumbents fixation to erase electoral competition is a recipe for disaster, unfortunately this is a hard lesson to learn. 

Uche Okeke.

Voter apathy remains a major threat to Nigeria's democracy, says INEC

 

"Voter turnout in Nigeria fell from over 60 percent in 2003 to below 30 percent in 2026" -INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN). Photo: Google.

The Chairman of Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission-INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan has disclosed that there is lack of motivation and insufficient voter education in Nigeria. According to Channels TV; the commission noted that voter turnout in Nigeria fell from over sixty-percent in 2003 to below thirty-percent recently, blaming low motivation and poor voter education. Speaking at the launch of newly updated voter education manuals as part of the efforts to tackle voter apathy and boost  participation ahead of the 2027 general elections, INEC's Information and Voter Education Committee Chairman, Mohammed Haruna, expressed concern over the steady decline in voter turnout since Nigeria's return to democratic rule in 1999. He cited data from recent elections indicating a growing participation gap, where a small proportion of the population determines leadership outcomes for the majority. While reaffirming that the Electoral Act 2026 has strengthened transparency through improved legal frameworks and electronic processes, he stressed that legislation alone cannot address voter disengagement. In his words; "An indifferent electorate is a democracy in retreat". He called for sustained investment in civic education to rebuild public trust and participation. 

The launch of the updated voter education manual is in collaboration with national and international partners, including the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI). The newly unveiled materials include a revised National Voter Education Manual and a Youth-focused Civic and Voter Education Manual designed to promote informed civic engagement, particularly among young Nigerians. INEC's Information and Voter Education Committee Chairman, Mohammed Haruna, explained that the manuals were developed in partnership with KDI to improve citizens understanding of the electoral process and encourage greater participation. The Team Leader of KDI, Mr. Bukola Idowu, described the initiative as a strategic intervention rather than a routine document launch. He said the revised manuel reflects current electoral laws, technological advancements, and evolving patterns of political participation, while the youth focused version is tailored to engage young people as 'voters, educators and agents of change'. INEC's Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, said the mannual had been comprehensively revised to align with the Electoral Act 2026. She highlighted key updates, including provisions on *party primaries, *campaign finance regulations, *electoral offences and continued deployment of *technologies such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). She said, the updated manual is structured into eleven -(11) modules and incorporates global best practices, alongside expanded digital engagement strategies aimed at reaching Nigeria's increasingly tech-savvy population.

The LEAD Project Foundation is actively involved in Civic and Voter Education Activities in Nigeria and acts as a platform for strengthening democratic processes involving community engagement efforts.

Click on this link to read more about our activities: The LEAD Project Foundation- About Us