Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has linked the recurring low voter turnout during elections in Nigeria to the manipulation of electoral processes and other fraudulent acts by desperate politicians.
Speaking in Port Harcourt during the opening ceremony of the First International Conference on Advancing Politics and Governance for Sustainable Development, organised by the Centre for Politics, University of Port Harcourt, Otti expressed concern that electoral malpractice has eroded public trust, fuelling widespread voter apathy.
Represented by the former Senate Minority Chief Whip, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, the governor lamented that despite the large sums spent on political mobilisation, citizens have continued to lose faith in the system.
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“You find out that there is a continued decline in voters’ turnout in successive elections despite the rising cost of political mobilization. People have become disenchanted, especially after the 2023 general elections,” he said.
Otti urged Nigerians, especially intellectuals, policymakers, and community leaders, to take ownership of the political process and drive genuine reforms that can strengthen democracy.
“Complaining from the sidelines will no longer be feasible. We must begin mobilizing the best of us to pursue the message of a new order and make a strong case for change within democratic bounds,” he stated.
He added that the growing levels of unemployment, poverty, and economic hardship in Africa were unacceptable, stressing that restoration was achievable if citizens reclaimed their collective power.