With the Anambra governorship election fast approaching, the Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC) has intensified efforts to tackle voter apathy, urging residents not to stay away from polling booths on election day.
At a voter education outreach held at Oye Agu Market, Abagana, SIDEC Project Officer, Bruno Chimnaecherem, said the biggest threat to credible election in Anambra is not just violence or vote buying, but the growing disinterest of citizens to come out and vote.
“Many people now believe their votes no longer count, and so they stay back at home,” he said.
“But that mindset is dangerous. The people you fail to vote for today will make decisions that will affect you for the next four years.”
“In 2021, only 10% of the total registered voters came out to vote and that was the lowest in the history of elections in Nigeria. We don’t want that to happen again.
He reminded the electorate that bad leaders get into office when good people refuse to vote.
Also speaking, SIDEC Finance Officer, Chioma Enwereuzo, stressed that with over 2.8 million registered voters in Anambra, staying away from polling units automatically weakens the power of citizens.
“When you decide not to come out and vote, those who come out will vote in their choice and governance under such a leader will affect everyone including you.”
“Your PVC is your power. That is why politicians chase you during election. On November 8, 2025, don’t sit at home. Go out and vote. Don’t allow anyone discourage you.”
She warned voters not to wear party outfits, caps or insignia to polling units as such amounts to illegal campaigning.
Enwereuzo also advised citizens to turn down vote-buying attempts, saying the Electoral Act (2022) criminalizes both buyer and seller.
She further appealed to voters to respect priority rights of persons with disabilities, the elderly, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.
Factors hindering turnout
Some traders including Chisom Okoye shared reasons people lose interest in voting including the delay in the process due to poor internet connectivity.
“You can stay in the sun for hours because BVAS is not connecting. People then get tired and go home. INEC should fix network issues to make voting faster.”
Another trader, Rose Nwaneri, raised concerns about poor conduct of security personnel.
“Sometimes security agents will just stand and watch party agents misbehave,” she said. “If security and INEC do their work well, more people will come out to vote.”
After the session, SIDEC staff and traders took the anti-voter apathy campaign from shop to shop stressing the importance of actively participating in the forthcoming election.
