An Igbo association, the Igbo Agenda Dialogue, has initiated a voters registration campaign, urging individuals from the region across Nigeria and abroad to engage thoroughly in the current voter registration initiative to reclaim their political significance in the nation.
In an open correspondence directed to Ndigbo, the National Chairman of the organization, Chekwas Okorie, encouraged Igbo individuals everywhere to get ready for the upcoming elections by becoming more politically involved and actively engaging in the democratic process.
He reminded the Igbo population that it is generally considered to be the largest among Nigeria’s ethnic groups, pointing out that Igbo individuals are the most widely dispersed ethnic community in Nigeria.
Okorie highlighted that despite the purported inability of various Nigerian administrations to carry out a nationwide population census since 2006, research conducted over the years indicates that Igbo individuals constitute approximately ninety-nine percent of the population in the Southeast geopolitical zone.
He further mentioned that the same research also implies that the Igbos represent the second largest distinct ethnic population across the remaining thirty-one States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
“Nigeria’s democratic framework is influenced by demographics and geographical distribution during elections. Therefore, a politically aware Igbo electorate should consistently be a significant factor in determining political power in the country since the restoration of democratic governance. The 2027 elections provide a substantial opportunity for Ndigbo to reclaim their rightful position in Nigeria’s political landscape,” he asserted.
Okorie elucidated that the portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, remains accessible for ongoing online voter registration, but expressed concern that the Southeast lags considerably behind other geopolitical zones in the quantity of individuals registering to vote.
He additionally noted that registered voters now have the capability to modify their polling units online to more convenient locations to cast their votes on election day.
“Information released by the electoral commission from the 2023 general elections revealed that the Southeast had roughly 11.5 million registered voters, of which only 2.2 million participated in the presidential election.
The region already recorded the lowest number of registered voters among the geopolitical zones, and the situation was exacerbated by the fact that about nine point three million registered voters did not engage in the presidential election,” he added.
The National Chairman of the Igbo organization warned that this trend must not continue as it undermines the political influence of the region.
He stated that failing to register as a voter equates to forfeiting the essential right to partake in selecting representatives, Governors, and the President.
Okorie further clarified that opting not to vote during elections indirectly supports candidates that the populace does not desire to represent or govern them.
“In the circumstance of a referendum or a plebiscite for self-determination, creation of new states, or the recall of an elected official, only individuals with valid voter cards will be permitted to participate.
“Nigeria has not conducted a credible population census for many years; the number of votes recorded from a region often serves as the criteria used to assess the political relevance of that area,” he emphasized.
