Ohanaeze Ndigbo has blamed political and traditional leaders in the southeast for the poor voter registration figures recorded during the just-concluded online exercise of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The apex Igbo sociocultural group said the region recorded only 1,998 new voter registrations between August 18 and 25, compared to 1.3 million nationwide.
Figures released showed that the southwest led with 848,359 registrations, while the north-central followed with 250,218.
Ohanaeze described the southeast numbers as “profoundly unacceptable”, noting that Anambra recorded no new registrants.
The organisation held political leaders in Anambra responsible for failing to mobilise citizens for the exercise.
Part of the statement signed by Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Deputy President-General of Ohanaeze, and Thompson Ohia, National spokesman, read:
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo itself acknowledges its own shortcomings in this endeavour.
“We castigate the southeast governors, whose focus on narrow political agendas has demonstrably overshadowed the paramount political interests of the Igbo people.
“This irresponsible conduct has rendered the southeast a political caricature in the eyes of the nation.”
The group also criticised traditional rulers and civil rights organisations for their “collective failure” to sensitise the people.
Ohanaeze said the ongoing in-person INEC voters registration exercise, which began on August 26 and will end on August 31, 2026, is an opportunity for redemption.
It urged governors, local government chairmen, town union presidents, market associations, students, religious leaders and civil rights groups to mobilise citizens across the southeast to register.
“This is a clarion call, a rallying cry, to all Igbo across Nigeria. Participate in the INEC voters registration exercise across the 774 local government areas of the federation.
“Register, and make your voice heard. Let the Igbo people reclaim their rightful place in the Nigerian political landscape,” the statement added.
