Abia State Governor Alex Otti has raised concerns over the growing level of voter apathy in Nigeria, warning that continued low participation in elections could pave the way for incompetent and corrupt leadership.
The governor spoke on Thursday in Umuahia during a lecture organised to commemorate the third anniversary of his administration, where he reflected on the state of democracy and citizens’ involvement in the electoral process.
According to Otti, statistics from the 2023 general election showed that only 27 per cent of registered voters participated in the exercise, a situation he described as troubling for the future of governance in the country.
He stressed that when citizens register to vote but fail to exercise their civic responsibility, they indirectly create room for unqualified individuals to assume leadership positions.
The governor acknowledged that many Nigerians have become discouraged by electoral malpractice and irregularities, but maintained that abandoning the political process would only worsen the country’s challenges.
“You can say sometimes when you come and exercise your will that it does not count.
“If votes do not count, why do politicians campaign? They could have just sat down and written the results,” Otti said.
The governor made the remarks while responding to a lecture delivered by legal scholar and human rights advocate Chidi Odinkalu.
During the event, Otti also announced the appointment of commissioners overseeing tertiary education, health, and basic and secondary education into the Abia State Security Council. According to him, the move is aimed at strengthening security within schools and educational institutions across the state.
He said his administration has recorded major progress in reducing crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, and banditry, but admitted that cult-related violence remains a serious issue that must be addressed urgently.
“The other day, cultists went on a rampage and killed some people in Aba, and then we traced them back to the schools,” Otti said.
Otti emphasized the need to tackle cultism from the school environment in order to prevent further violence and criminal activities among youths.
