Apathy, Distrust Listed As Reasons Behind Low Voter Registration In South-East
APATHY, distrust, and cumbersome procedures have been identified as major reasons behind the low participation of residents in the South East geopolitical zone in the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise being conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
INEC announced on Monday that 1,379,342 Nigerians had registered nationwide in the online pre-registration phase of the CVR, which started on August 18 and ended on August 24, 2024.
A breakdown of the figures revealed that states in the South East, except Anambra—which is not participating in the exercise due to the forthcoming governorship election—recorded the lowest numbers of registered voters.
According to the data, only 772 prospective voters in Abia, 484 in Enugu in Imo, and 261 in Ebonyi enrolled for online pre-registration.
On the other hand, the South West region led the chart in online voter registration. Osun State has 393,269 registrations, followed byLagos (222,205) and Ogun (132,823).
Other states with notable numbers include the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with 107,682, Kaduna (61,592), Kogi (58,546), Kebbi (35,009), Yobe (34,888), Kwara (33,726), and Delta (24,421)
Observers Attribute South West’s High Numbers to Political Interest
Observers have linked the South West’s impressive turnout to the fact that it is home to President Bola Tinubu, who is expected to seek re-election in 2027. The recent governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti—which also recorded significant participation—and Lagos’s cosmopolitan status were also seen as contributing factors.
It has also been argued that the Federal Capital Territory recorded a high number of registrations because of its status as the nation’s capital, with residents
from diverse backgrounds. Meanwhile, Kaduna and some northern states were said to benefit from stronger political mobilisation, while Kwara’s numbers may have been influenced by its ethnic and cultural ties to the South West.
Distrust and Apathy Behind South East’s Poor Turnout
Low participation in the South East has been attributed to widespread apathy and a lack of confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system. Many residents reportedly believe that their votes do not count and that elections are predetermined.
A former chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Enugu State, John Nwobodo, explained that although the registration process itself is not difficult, people have lost faith in the political process.
He said, “The online and physical registration processes are not cumbersome, but people don’t have interest in the political process; they feel that it is a waste of time.”
Also speaking on the issue, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu, Obinna Uwakwe, said the situation is a reflection of the South East’s perceived marginalisation.
He stated, “People no longer believe that INEC can conduct a credible election in the country.”
Another politician, Ignatius Okonkwo, attributed the low turnout to what he described as the “cumbersome process,” especially for those living in rural areas. According to him, many residents in remote communities “find it difficult to do online registration.”
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu Calls for Greater South East Participation
Disturbed by the low voter registration in the South East, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has appealed to people from the region to actively participate in the ongoing CVR exercise.
In a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Kalu expressed concern about reports of poor turnout among Igbo people so far.
He said voter registration is a crucial
step in ensuring that citizens’ voices are heard in governance and development.
Decrying the poor statistics, Kalu warned that continued apathy could weaken the South East’s ability to influence outcomes in future elections.
He said, “If we want development, we must show we want to be part of the decision-making mechanism, and that starts by preparing to vote and be voted for.”
“Beyond party lines, let the region show our strength by the volume of registered voters from the Igbo nation. This is an opportunity to be part of the decision-making mechanism of government. Development is for everyone and democracy has dividends for participation, so let’s participate now,” Kalu added.
He urged residents to seize the opportunity provided by INEC to visit registration centres and register in large numbers.
ADC Challenges INEC Over Registration Figures
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expressed doubts over what it described as “statistically implausible” figures released by INEC in its first-week report on new continuous voter registrations.
The party said the number of new registrants from Osun State alone appears unrealistic, arguing that the data contradict both historical patterns and demographic realities.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC noted that Osun’s reported 393,269 new registrations in one week exceeded the total number of new voters recorded in the state over the last four years combined.
“According to INEC’s figures, Osun State alone recorded 393,269 pre-registrations in just one week. To put this in context, Osun added only 275,815 new voters between 2019 and 2023, a period of four years,” the statement said.
It was further argued by the party that, “Even at its highest point of political mobilisation in 2022, no more than 823,124 votes were cast in the Osun governorship election. Now, by some miracle, nearly 20 per cent of all eligible adults in the state are said to have rushed to register. This is not just unusual; it is considered statistically implausible.”
ADC warned that leaving such suspicious figures unchecked could damage public confidence in the credibility of Nigeria’s entire electoral process.
INEC Defends Its Data and Refutes ADC’s Claims
In response, INEC has reassured Nigerians that there is nothing unusual about the data from Osun State or any other part of the country.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said in a statement that the pattern of registration in 2024 mirrors what happened during previous CVR exercises.
According to him, similar results were recorded in June 2021, when the online pre-registration portal was first launched by INEC. Within 24 hours of its debut on June 28, 2021, over 59,000 accounts had been created, and by July 12, 2021, the number of active accounts had risen to 456,909.
“Interestingly, Osun State led with 154,893 pre-registrations at the time,” Oyekanmi said. “By the third week, 752,011 persons had pre-registered, with Osun still in front with 232,880.”
He added that by the eighth week, Osun had 365,412 registrations, and by April 2022, the state topped the chart with 708,782 pre-registrations out of the total 8,271,647 recorded nationwide.
The current exercise, which began with online registration on August 18, 2025, followed by in-person registration on August 25, 2025, has been described by Oyekanmi as following a similar pattern to previous registration cycles.
He noted that from August 18 to 24, a total of 1,379,342 Nigerians registered online, with Osun State (393,269), Lagos (222,205), and the FCT (107,682) leading the list.
“If the party were proactive enough, a simple search of public records already in the public domain would have revealed these facts. The Commission has always been transparent in releasing registration data weekly,” Oyekanmi concluded.
