Today’s edition of citizens hour, we focuson another critical issue shaking the foundations of democracy in parts of our subregion — the boycott of elections and its ripple effects on community development. From Benin to Guinea, and even Togo and Ghana, election boycotts have become a familiar form of political protest — but at what cost? When citizens or opposition parties stay away from the polls, legitimacy weakens, governance pauses, and communities often pay the price through poor representation, stalled development projects, and eroded public trust. So, how do election boycotts affect local growth, citizen participation, and the overall health of our democracies? And are there better ways to express political grievances without incapacitating community progress?