Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Garba Abari has disclosed that out of the total number of 93.47 million registered voters, only 24.9 million people actually voted during the 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections.
He disclosed this on Wednesday at the flagging off of the agency’s off-season governorship polls sensitization campaign on understanding the new electoral act, civic participation and peace held in Lokoja, Kogi state.
According to him, this represents a meagre 26.72 percent voter turnout, actually the lowest percentage since the return to democracy in 1999.
His words, “Some have even said the turnout is the worst since Nigeria’s Independence. In 36 states, less than half of the eligible population turned out to vote, and no state had a turnout above 40 per cent.
“In the three largest states based on voter registration — Lagos, Kano and Rivers — less than a third of the eligible population voted. Rivers turnout was a poor 15.6 per cent, the lowest in the country, despite producing a lot more votes in past elections. Overall, voter apathy is a major challenge in Nigeria’s democracy
“There is a worrying trend of public disinterest in or indifference towards the electoral and democratic processes. In 1999, turnout was 52.3 per cent. Officially, it grew to 69 per cent in 2003; and it has fallen since then, first to 57.5 per cent in 2007; then to 53.7 per cent in 2011; before dropping to 43.7 per cent in 2015.
“We are hoping that INEC and other stakeholders will consider our request to partner with NOA to undertake a special study on the causes of poor voter turnout during elections in Nigeria.
The Director General of NOA stressed that many have predicted a violent governorship election in Kogi come November 11, but is confident that Kogi will demonstrate its well-known character for love, orderliness and peace during the coming elections.
“We are hoping that the intention of the new electoral act to facilitate inclusion of the vulnerable in the society especially women, the young and the people living with disability will be fulfilled as we prepare and hold the governorship elections in Kogi state
“We need to inspire confidence in the democratic model which has served several countries so well. The level of violence, manipulations, desperation exhibited during elections have generally given democracy a bad name and all of us as Nigerians have a duty to put a stop to that.”
According to him, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), in line with its mandate, has since been championing voter sensitization and citizens’ mobilization to ensure the new Electoral Act is well understood by citizens and given effect by all relevant stakeholders.
Earlier, the Acting Director of NOA in Kogi State Patrick Edogbanya said the stakeholders meeting will add impetus to the sensitization programme which will help to eschew any form of violence before, during and after the election.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police in Kogi State CP Onuoha Bethrand who was represented by the Police Area Commander in Lokoja ACP Sikiru Suara said officers of the command are fully ready for a hitch-free exercise.
He warned that, any individual who intends to perpetuate violence before, during and after the election will be arrested and prosecuted.
Other stakeholders at the event such as the Chairman, Kogi State Inter-Party Advisory Council, (IPAC) Ukweyan Musa, Chairperson, Kogi State Non-Governmental Organization Network, (KONGONET) Ambassador Idris Ozovehe Muraina, traditional rulers, religious leaders all appeal to parents to caution their wards on the need to abstain from any form of violence that would truncate the peace election process in Kogi State in November.
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