Political economist and democracy advocate Pat Utomi has urged Nigerians to turn out in large numbers during the 2027 elections, saying citizens must use the ballot box to reclaim control of the country.
Utomi made the call during a media event in Lagos, where he expressed concern over Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions and declining public confidence in key democratic institutions.
The 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, while governorship elections are expected to hold on February 6.
According to Utomi, the country is facing a severe economic crisis characterised by widespread poverty, hunger and frustration.
He warned that the difficult conditions were creating an environment where vulnerable Nigerians could be easily influenced with money and other incentives during elections.
Utomi urged citizens to reject vote-buying and other forms of electoral manipulation while demanding greater accountability from institutions responsible for protecting Nigeria’s democracy.
He said institutions that fail to perform their constitutional responsibilities must be compelled to do so or face consequences.
The democracy advocate also expressed concern over what he described as declining public trust in the judiciary, police, anti-corruption agencies and the electoral commission.
According to him, the weakening of these institutions poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic development and must be addressed urgently.
Plan to Livestream Polling
Utomi disclosed that his organisation is planning a system that would livestream voting activities from polling units across the country during the 2027 elections.
He said the initiative is intended to increase transparency, discourage electoral fraud and strengthen public confidence in the voting process.
The proposed system would also include backup measures designed to prevent the technical challenges experienced during the 2023 elections and address concerns associated with previous digital platforms used by the electoral commission.
Growing Economic Hardship
Utomi also highlighted the severity of Nigeria’s economic challenges, citing figures from international organisations which he said indicate that about 35 million Nigerians are facing food insecurity, while approximately 139 million people could be living in poverty by the end of 2026.
He said the economic hardship was increasingly affecting Nigerians who had previously been able to support themselves without assistance.
Utomi recalled receiving an increasing number of requests for financial assistance from people who had never previously sought his help.
He said he initially believed the situation was limited to people around him but later realised that similar experiences were occurring across the country.
According to him, the economic crisis is eroding the dignity and self-reliance of many Nigerians, with begging becoming increasingly common among people who previously considered it unacceptable.
He therefore called on Nigerians to participate actively in the 2027 elections and use their votes to demand better leadership and stronger democratic institutions.