As the countdown to the November 8, 2025 Anambra governorship election gathers momentum, the Executive Director of the Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC), Mrs. Ugochi Ehiahuruike, has appealed to residents of the state to take ownership of their future by voting wisely and peacefully.
She made this call during a market sensitization campaign at Oye Market, Ichida, in Anaocha Local Government Area, aimed at encouraging citizens to turn out in large numbers on election day and resist electoral malpractice.
The Oye Market sensitization was organized by SIDEC in partnership with Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as part of efforts to achieve increased voter turnout during the forthcoming governorship election.
The SIDEC team, accompanied by the Woman Leader of Oye Market and the group’s Local Government Coordinator, moved around the market engaging traders and buyers.
They carried placards with bold inscriptions such as: “Your vote, your right”, “Every vote counts”, and “Say no to electoral violence”. Others read: “Don’t sell your vote”,“When you sell your vote, you sell your future” and “Make party politics women-friendly and inclusive”
These messages, according to Ehiahuruike, were carefully crafted to awaken the conscience of voters, reminding them that their choices at the ballot box will determine the quality of leadership the state gets for the next four years.
“Your vote, your power”
Addressing the traders, Ehiahuruike emphasized that voting remains the strongest weapon in the hands of the people to reward good governance and punish poor leadership.
“As you’re coming out, do not permit anyone to lure you into electoral violence. If you know the beginning of violence, you may never know the end,” she warned.
She further stressed the dangers of vote-selling, noting that those who sell their votes mortgage not only their future but also that of their children.
“Come out and vote because your votes will count. If your votes do not count, politicians will not be buying them. The more people come out to vote, the harder it becomes for desperate politicians to manipulate the process.”
Call for good governance
In his remarks, Johnpaul Okeke, SIDEC Coordinator in Anaocha LGA, underscored the need for a governor who will provide genuine dividends of democracy, including good healthcare, quality education, and durable road networks.
“Whoever you find worthy of your vote, give it to him or her. But if you stay back and don’t vote, you give room for the wrong people to assume power,” he said.
Adding her voice, Mrs. Apollonia Osigwe, Woman Leader of Oye Market, urged traders to use their voter’s cards responsibly.
“Your voter’s card is your right. Use it to elect leaders who will work for the common good.
“It is unpatriotic to sit at home when others are exercising their franchise at the polls,” she declared.
Osigwe also appealed for peaceful conduct during the elections, urging women in particular to play a central role in mobilizing households for credible leadership.
The organization believes that strong voter turnout, rejection of vote-buying, and peaceful participation will go a long way in ensuring that the people’s will prevails in the upcoming governorship election.
With just weeks to the poll, SIDEC insists that the destiny of Anambra lies in the hands of its citizens, urging them to make the right choice for the future of the state.
