Concerns have been raised over the low turnout of residents of the Southeast region of the country in the ongoing continuous voter registration exercise across the country.
This is as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, announced that over 3.5 million Nigerians have successfully registered online.
A development the election umpire said signaled a strong wave of civic engagement ahead of the next general elections.
However, beneath this milestone lies a troubling disparity: a persistently low turnout for the exercise in the Southeast.
A development that has raised concerns among political observers, civil society organizations, and community leaders in the region.
In the figures released by INEC, States in the North-West and South-West are recording comparatively high registration traffic.
This the Commission said is driven largely by youth participation and coordinated mobilization by local organisations.
A contrast development in the Southeast with fewer registrants despite the region’s vibrant youth population and history of political activism.
Analysts point to several possible reasons for the slump. Some blame widespread insecurity in parts of the region, which has created fear and limited public enthusiasm for physical verification at INEC offices.
Others cite voter apathy fueled by distrust in electoral outcomes, and the economic struggles that keep many young Nigerians preoccupied with survival rather than political participation.
Also, civil society leaders are worried that unless urgent steps are taken, the Southeast could face under-representation in the coming elections.
A governance expert based in Enugu, Dr. Nnaemeka Uche expressed concerns over the development.
He said “This trend is disturbing.”
“If the numbers remain this low, it will weaken the political bargaining power of the Southeast. Every vote matters, and non-participation is a silent surrender of the region’s future.”
Dr. Uche was not alone, even political parties have also expressed concern.
Some warn that low voter numbers could reinforce negative stereotypes about the region’s electoral engagement.
While others are urging community-based sensitization to remedy the situation.
They emphasized that the online registration platform was designed to make the process easier, particularly for first-time voters and the youth. They encouraged the youths to take advantage of the process to get registered.
The good news: the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has assured Nigerians that it is expanding outreach, with more mobile registration units to be deployed in underperforming regions.
INEC also appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, and civil society to intensify voter education and dispel fears surrounding registration.
With the Southeast struggling to match the pace of other zones in terms of political development, the fear is that political apathy may translate into diminished influence in policymaking and resource allocation.
Reacting to the low registration in the Southeast, a Lagos-based election monitor, Aisha Mohammed expressed concerns.
She said, “The numbers are encouraging at the national level. But democracy is only as strong as the participation of its weakest region.”
“If the Southeast disengages, its voice will be missing when critical national decisions are made.”