An election monitoring group, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), has expressed concern over declining voter participation in Anambra State, even as voter registration has steadily increased over the past eight years.
According to KDI, which operates under the Strengthening Electoral Accountability Project, the number of citizens turning out on election day has dropped by more than 58 per cent, signaling growing voter apathy and waning confidence in the electoral process.
The findings were disclosed by Bukola Idowu, KDI’s Executive Director, during a pre-election press briefing in Awka on Friday.
She outlined the organization’s assessment of pre-election dynamics, highlighting potential risks and opportunities for ensuring transparent and peaceful polls.
Idowu identified key areas of concern, including low voter turnout, INEC’s readiness, logistical challenges, election security, and hotspot mapping.
She emphasised that these insights were derived from a combination of data-driven research, stakeholder engagement, and on-the-ground observation across the state.
She said, “As part of our commitment to advancing democratic integrity, transparency, and peaceful participation, KDI has been closely monitoring the electoral environment in Anambra State through data-driven research, stakeholder engagement, and on-ground observation under our Nigeria Election Violence Education and Resolution project.
“Our pre-election assessment highlights key trends, risks, and opportunities for ensuring credible and violence-free polls. Declining voter turnout – In Anambra, voter turnout has fallen by over 58 per cent in the last eight years, despite consistent growth in voter registration.
“It will appear that voter turnout is falling at the same rate at which voter registration was growing. This means that while more citizens are registering to vote, fewer are turning out on election day, a troubling trend that points to deepening voter apathy and declining trust in the electoral process.
“To better understand this decline, KDI conducted a detailed analysis and discovered that although Anambra North Senatorial recorded the highest number of registered voters, it has consistently produced the lowest voter turnout in the state.
“While insecurity contributes to low voter turnout in the state generally, Anambra South, which has historically experienced higher levels of insecurity, still recorded comparatively better turnout rates. KDI’s findings suggest that other factors contribute to the low participation in Anambra North, including logistical and geographical challenges.
“Some local governments in the district, such as Anambra East, Anambra West, and Ogbaru, are largely riverine and made up of hard-to-reach communities, with a higher voter-to-polling-unit ratio than other districts. These factors have contributed significantly to voter fatigue, disenfranchisement, and the persistent low turnout in the region.”
READ ALSO: Akpabio Denies Mocking Trump Over Alleged Christian Genocide
The group warned that these areas require urgent attention to prevent Anambra from facing another low voter turnout in Saturday’s governorship election.
“While the INEC has demonstrated logistical readiness, some operational gaps persist. KDI’s comparative analysis of
INEC’s preparedness for the 2025 Anambra Governorship Election against the 2024 Ondo off-cycle election reveals a mixed outlook on operational readiness.
“The training of ad-hoc officials concluded only on November 6, 2025, two days before the election, compared to a timelier completion in Ondo 2024, which left no room for mock drills or refresher sessions, limiting INEC’s ability to evaluate the competence of ad-hoc personnel and replace unfit or unavailable staff ahead of election day.
“KDI’s hotspot mapping analysis for the 2025 Anambra governorship election indicated that while the overall security risk across the state remains moderate, several localised flashpoints persist in areas historically prone to electoral tension, political rivalry, and voter intimidation,” Idowu stated.
She noted that Aguata and Ihiala LGAs are classified as severe-risk areas, with a high likelihood of violence or disruptions on election day. Nnewi North, Nnewi South, and Ogbaru LGAs were identified as high-risk, while the remaining local government areas are considered moderate-risk.
Idowu explained that LGAs marked as severe or high risk are more prone to election-related disturbances, including logistical delays, voter suppression, and violent clashes, if proactive measures are not implemented.
