Lawrence Ndubeze, Awka
Ahead of the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State, stakeholders have met to brainstorm on ways to curb voter apathy and boost voter turnout.
The session, organized by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) in collaboration with the International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC), was part of the Strengthening Transparency, Accountability, and Governance Process (Stage 2 Project) themed “Reignite the Voice: Mobilizing for Electoral Participation.”
President of IPCRC, Prince Chris Azor, said the event sought to deepen citizen participation and strengthen transparency, accountability, and good governance. He identified a strong local government system as key to reversing voter apathy, stressing that granting full autonomy to local councils would bring governance closer to the people and inspire greater participation.
“When citizens feel the impact of good governance at the grassroots, they are more likely to engage in sustaining it,” Azor said, adding that the project team would continue to build stakeholder capacity for effective civic engagement.
Azor appreciated the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) for their support, urging stakeholders to remain committed to ensuring a free, fair, and credible election.
Executive Director of Centre LSD, Mr. Monday Osasah, in his welcome remarks, emphasized the importance of elections in consolidating democracy. He called on participants to act on the session’s recommendations to improve voter turnout and electoral integrity.
Representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), National Orientation Agency (NOA), Anambra State Civic and Social Reformation Office (ANCISRO), Traditional Rulers Council, FIDA, and Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) all pledged to intensify voter education and mobilization efforts.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Henry Duru of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, identified distrust in the electoral process, poor governance, and electoral violence as major causes of voter apathy. He recommended stronger grassroots mobilization, responsible political communication, and electoral reforms to restore confidence in the system.
Participants — including civil society groups, women leaders, traders, and religious leaders — pledged to contribute to rebuilding public trust and promoting active voter participation in Anambra and beyond.
