2027: North Shows Highest Voting Interest Amid Insecurity — Yiaga Africa

Ahead of the 2027 general election, civic organisation Yiaga Africa has said voter interest is highest in the North-West and North-East regions, despite widespread fears of insecurity and electoral violence.

The organisation disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja while presenting the first round of its National Voting Intentions Survey titled “Who Will Vote?”.

According to the report, 67 per cent of respondents in the North-West and 45 per cent in the North-East expressed willingness to vote in 2027, while the South-South and South-East recorded the lowest levels of enthusiasm at 29 per cent and 25 per cent respectively.

Yiaga Africa noted that the regions with the strongest intention to vote also reported high levels of concern over security threats and possible electoral violence, which could hinder participation.

Presenting the findings, the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, said the survey was conducted to assess voter interest, confidence in the electoral process and barriers to participation ahead of the polls.

He said the survey was conducted between December 1 and 5, 2025, via telephone interviews with 1,500 respondents across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with a 95 per cent confidence level.

The report showed that 77 per cent of Nigerians indicated they were likely to vote in 2027, but 42 per cent cited fear of violence as the main reason for not participating.

It further revealed that security concerns, candidate quality, and economic conditions were the leading factors influencing voting decisions, suggesting a growing preference for candidates over political parties.

While 76 per cent of respondents believed their votes could influence election outcomes, only 45 per cent expressed confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission’s ability to conduct credible elections.

Yiaga Africa recommended improved election security, credible party primaries and enhanced INEC logistics to boost voter turnout ahead of the 2027 general election.

In his remarks, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Dr Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, expressed concern over declining voter turnout, noting that only about 27 per cent of registered voters participated in the 2023 presidential election.

He said sustained efforts were required to rebuild trust in the electoral system and encourage broader citizen participation.