- Says Democracy Only Thrives When Citizens Actively Choose Their Leaders
- Yiaga Africa Warns On Insecurity, Voter Apathy
As Anambra State prepares for its crucial governorship election on Saturday, November 8, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, the newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has pledged to deliver a credible, transparent, and peaceful electoral process
Speaking at a press conference held on Thursday, 6th November 2025, at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, the Chairman made a passionate appeal to voters, stating that “the greatest enemy to Anambra’s democracy is not just external violence but voter apathy.”
The professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) revealed a worrying historical slide in voter participation in the state.
“The greatest enemy to Anambra’s democracy is not just external violence but voter apathy,” the SAN was quoted as saying in a statement on the Commission’s X handle.
“In the 2013 governorship election, turnout was only 25.5 per cent. In 2017, it dropped further to 20.10 per cent.
“In 2021, the situation deteriorated sharply with a mere 10.27 per cent turnout,” he added.
In a significant announcement, the Chairman reported a major success in voter preparedness, with the percentage of collected PVCs now standing at an “impressive 98.80%.
” This followed an extension of the PVC collection period, which he said yielded “excellent results.”
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, has raised concerns over insecurity and voter apathy in the state.
Itodo, in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, said insecurity remains a major challenge, particularly in riverine and high-risk areas.
“The second biggest issue [ahead of the election] relates to insecurity in some hot spots and riverine areas. If security agencies don’t provide protection for INEC officials and materials, deployment will be difficult,” he said on Thursday.
The YIAGA chief urged security operatives to collaborate with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure safe and smooth conduct of the exercise.
“We hope the security agencies cooperate with INEC and provide the necessary security. So far, everything seems peaceful, and the state is primed for voting,” he added.
Despite the challenges, Itodo is however, optimistic that voter turnout would improve compared to the 2021 election.
“We hope for a high turnout because, in 2021, the state only recorded about 20.1 per cent, which was abysmally low,” he noted.
He commended INEC’s new leadership for its readiness and expressed confidence that the commission would commence the poll promptly.
“With the assurances from the new INEC chairman, we hope the commission breaks the jinx of late commencement,” Itodo said.
