Why Apathy Dogs Voter Registration in South‑East, South‑South!

Sele Media Africa
www.selemedia.org
Reported by Amos Dachung | Sele Media Africa Reporter

Abuja / Enugu / Port Harcourt — Despite ongoing efforts by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to boost participation through the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), Nigeria’s South‑East and parts of the South‑South are witnessing alarmingly low turnout. This trend is sparking concern among political actors, civil society groups, and election observers.
Source: Premium Times (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/678931-cvr-nigerians-youths-turn-up-for-voter-registration-in-inec-centres.html))

Voter Turnout by the Numbers

As of September 7, 2025, INEC reported that over 3.54 million Nigerians had pre‑registered online nationwide. Yet, figures from key South‑East states were notably poor:

• Enugu: 1,203
• Ebonyi: 1,616
• Abia: 2,629
• Imo: 61,341
• Anambra: Slightly higher, but still below national averages

Combined, these figures place the South‑East at the bottom of the national registration table.

Source: ICIR Nigeria(https://www.icirnigeria.org/why-the-south-east-recorded-lowest-cvr-turnout-icir-fact-check/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

Earlier in the CVR drive, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) noted that four of the five South-East states had recorded just 1,998 pre‑registrations combined during the first week.
Source: ThisDay (https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2025/09/08/adc-raises-alarm-over-low-voter-registration-in-south-east/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

What’s Driving the Apathy?

Election analysts and community leaders have attributed the low figures to several entrenched issues:

• Distrust in electoral institutions following previous flawed elections
• Security concerns in parts of the South‑East, driven by IPOB-related unrest and military presence
• Structural barriers, including long distances to INEC registration centres in rural areas
• Disillusionment among youth, who form the majority of potential voters but feel their votes do not count.
  Former Senate President Adolphus Wabara recently decried the apathy, warning that the region risks losing political relevance if registration trends continue to lag. He called for massive civic education and grassroots mobilization.
  Source: Vanguard](https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/09/wabara-urges-south-east-leaders-to-boost-voter-registration/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) INEC’s Response

INEC has said it is working to address access gaps by deploying mobile registration teams and additional personnel to hard-to-reach areas. The commission has also launched online tools and urged civil society organizations to support awareness campaigns.
Source: INEC Official Twitter/X](https://twitter.com/inecnigeria)

Marian Opeyemi Fasesan

Marian Opeyemi Fasesan is a dynamic journalist and editorial leader committed to excellence in news reporting and storytelling. As the Editor-in-Chief of Sele Media Africa, she ensures daily operations run smoothly while upholding the highest editorial standards. With a strong eye for detail and deep understanding of audience engagement, Marian coordinates content across platforms, guiding teams to produce compelling, timely, and credible news. Her leadership reflects the heart of Sele Media Africa’s mission—to inform, inspire, and elevate voices across the continent.