…Says South-East’s deliverance lies in political action, not despair
Former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and public policy scholar, Dr. Sam Amadi, has called on people of the South-East to renew faith in the ballot, warning that political apathy and cynicism are fast becoming the region’s biggest threat.
In a stirring message shared on his social media platform on Monday titled “Vote, Vote Again,” Amadi lamented that many Igbos have lost faith in elections following alleged electoral manipulations in recent years, including the 2023 presidential poll and controversial governorship verdicts.
“The biggest challenge in Igbo land now is cynicism about the value of elections,” Amadi wrote. “Those who want to destroy us have succeeded in making us doubt the value of voting.”
He noted that disillusionment has deepened since “credible evidence shows that Peter Obi likely won the 2023 presidential election,” yet the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared President Bola Tinubu the winner. He also cited the “open rigging” in the Edo governorship poll and judicial outcomes that, in his words, “crossed the line of criminality.”
Despite these setbacks, the Harvard-trained governance expert urged Igbos not to retreat but to “fight harder,” drawing parallels with the resilience of Donald Trump’s supporters in the United States.
“If we lose today, we can win tomorrow. We can never win if we surrender the fight,” he stressed. “Those who give up die; those who hold up, likely live.”
Amadi argued that no leader or institution, “not Tinubu, not any governor, not even the Supreme Court”, can permanently suppress the will of the people, adding that only massive voter registration and participation can deliver the Southeast from political marginalisation.
“Go out and register to vote. That is the first stand for the deliverance of the Southeast. If we abandon the power of votes, we are permanently captured,” he said.
Quoting poet Chris Okigbo, “Except by rooting, who can plant cocoa yam”, Amadi asserted that the region’s liberation depends on transforming its numerical strength into electoral power.
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He warned against relying on non-democratic means or separatist rhetoric, insisting that “in a modern state, liberation comes from gaining political power or becoming a consequential political bloc.”
According to him, “If we mobilize six million votes, we will win presidential power or determine who wins. That makes us able to protect our strategic economic and social interests.”
Amadi also challenged Igbos in Lagos and across Nigeria not to be discouraged by the outcome of the 2023 elections.
“Register more, vote more, and defend your votes and your life and property anytime, anyhow, by all means necessary,” he declared.
He concluded his message with a call to action:
“This is the time to fight for freedom. It starts with your votes.”