As Nigeria marks the 2026 Democracy Day, a new nationwide opinion survey by NOIPolls has revealed widespread dissatisfaction with democratic governance, with 72 per cent of Nigerians expressing disappointment in the way democracy is being practiced in the country despite continued optimism about its future.
The findings were contained in a statement issued by NOIPolls Head of Corporate Communications, Nelly Ohuche in Abuja, highlighting key outcomes of the Democracy Day Poll conducted across the country in the first week of June 2026.
According to the poll, 46 per cent of respondents said they were “not satisfied at all” with democratic rule, while another 26 per cent indicated they were “not satisfied,” bringing total dissatisfaction to 72 per cent. In contrast, only 21 per cent expressed satisfaction with democracy, while seven per cent remained neutral.
The survey noted that dissatisfaction was highest in the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones, where 58 per cent and 56 per cent of respondents respectively reported being “not satisfied at all” with democratic governance. The North-East recorded a comparatively lower dissatisfaction level of 33 per cent.
NOIPolls explained that growing insecurity, poor delivery of democratic dividends, economic hardship and weak governance were the leading factors responsible for citizens’ discontent. Among dissatisfied respondents, 31 per cent cited insecurity as their major concern, while 20 per cent pointed to poor democratic dividends, 19 per cent to economic hardship and 17 per cent to poor governance.
The poll further showed that insecurity and poor leadership were regarded as the biggest obstacles to democratic progress, with 25 per cent of respondents identifying each as a major challenge. Poor economic conditions and corruption followed with 11 per cent and nine per cent respectively.
Assessments of government performance across critical sectors were equally poor. Security received the highest “Very Poor” rating at 72 per cent, followed by electricity at 57 per cent, foreign policy at 49 per cent and the economy at 48 per cent. Education emerged as the best-rated sector, attracting a 22 per cent “Good” rating, while infrastructure and science and technology recorded 21 per cent each.
Despite the prevailing dissatisfaction, the survey revealed that faith in democracy remains strong. NOIPolls survey noted that 71 per cent of Nigerians remain optimistic about the future of democracy, with 45 per cent describing themselves as “very optimistic” and 26 per cent as “optimistic.”
The poll also found that security, education, healthcare and economic growth remain the top priorities Nigerians want government to address over the next year, underscoring citizens’ desire for tangible improvements in governance, safety and service delivery.
