Samson Itodo, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, has urged political parties to take responsibility if voter turnout remains low in the upcoming Anambra 2025 governorship election.
According to Itodo, one area where parties have consistently fallen short is voter mobilisation. “If there is low voter turnout, the onus is on political parties. Either they are failing to communicate effectively, not reaching voters, or voters simply do not trust them,” Itodo stated.
He emphasized that in a democratic contest, voters are the primary clients of political parties, and engaging them should be a top priority.
Itodo also highlighted a sense of disconnection among voters, attributing it to a lack of confidence in the candidates presented. “Parties must do more than just campaign. They need to inspire voters with clear, credible developmental plans that citizens can believe in,” he added.
On the security front, Itodo identified Anambra South as a major hotspot, particularly Ihiala, Nnewi, and Aguata—areas where leading candidates hail from. He also noted that Anambra Central, Awka South, and Idemili North are expected to be competitive.
Despite concerns, he commended the smooth commencement of the election and called for sustained security, urging citizens to exercise their voting rights.
According to INEC, a total of 2,802,790 registered voters are expected to cast their ballots across 5,718 polling units in Anambra’s 21 local government areas.
The election, spanning three senatorial districts, features sixteen candidates, with prominent contenders including Governor Chukwuma Soludo (APGA), Nicholas Ukachukwu (APC), Paul Chukwuma (YPP), George Moghalu (LP), and Jude Ezenwafor (PDP).
Police Commissioner Abayomi Shogunle has assured residents of a peaceful electoral process across all flashpoints, including Ihiala.
Security agencies have conducted clearance operations in high-risk areas to neutralize potential threats ahead of the polls.
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