LEAP Africa has called on eligible voters in Anambra State to turn out in large numbers on November 8 to elect the state’s next governor.
Speaking at a press briefing in Onitsha, the organisation’s Programmes and Policy Coordinator, Haruna Godiya, decried the rising incidence of voter apathy, particularly among youths in the state. He attributed the trend to a trust deficit, insecurity, and other prevailing challenges.
The press briefing and stakeholders’ forum were held under the organisation’s Campaign Against Voter Apathy (CAVA) project, themed “Strengthening Citizens’ Participation in the 2025 Anambra Governorship Election.” The initiative is being implemented in partnership with Catch Them Young Community Initiative (CATYCOI).
Godiya warned that voter apathy poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic foundation and undermines the efforts of the nation’s founding fathers.
“People like the late Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik), the late Alex Ekwueme, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and the late Dora Akunyili made immense contributions to politics and national development,” he said.
“If we want Anambra to progress, one way to sustain the legacies of these great leaders is by ensuring good governance through active participation in the electoral process. When you don’t vote, you give someone else an advantage. This election presents another opportunity for Anambra voters to engage meaningfully.”
Earlier, Nonso Orakwe, Executive Director of CATYCOI, said the campaign aims to rekindle citizens’ confidence in the electoral process and empower eligible voters to exercise their rights.
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“As we approach the 2025 Anambra Governorship Election, we must remember that democracy thrives not merely through elections, but through the active participation, trust, and confidence of the people,” Orakwe stated.
Also speaking, Edwin Okadigbo, Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), assured residents of the Corps’ readiness to protect citizens before, during, and after the election.
He urged voters to turn out en masse to vote for their preferred candidates and cautioned youths against being exploited by desperate politicians to disrupt the electoral process.
In his remarks, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke, State Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD), disclosed that no fewer than 1,000 of the association’s members would participate in the election.
“We’ll use our numbers to make a political statement during the election so that we can press our demands afterwards,” he said.
Other stakeholders present at the meeting included representatives of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
