Manipulation, Fraud Responsible For Poor Voter Turnout In Nigeria

Alex Otti.

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has said that the persistent low voter turnout in Nigeria’s elections is a result of manipulation of the electoral system and other fraudulent practices carried out by desperate politicians.

Speaking on Tuesday in Port Harcourt during the opening 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 fraud has weakened public confidence, thereby causing widespread voter apathy.

Represented by the former Senate Minority Chief Whip, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, Otti lamented that despite the huge amount of money spent on political mobilisation, voter participation has continued to drop.

“You find out that there is a continued decline in voters’ turnout in successive elections despite the rising cost of political mobilisation. People have become disenchanted, especially after the 2023 general elections,” he said.

The governor urged Nigerians, especially intellectuals, policymakers, and community leaders, to actively engage in the political process and push for genuine democratic reforms.

“Complaining from the sidelines will no longer be feasible. We must begin mobilising the best of us to pursue the message of a new order and make a strong case for change within democratic bounds,” he stated.

Otti pointed out that the high rate of unemployment, poverty, and economic hardship in Africa is unacceptable, adding that change is possible if citizens recognise and use their collective power.

“Our case is not beyond redemption. Restoration will start when we come to a new awareness of our powers as intellectuals, opinion leaders, policymakers, and students,” he said.

He maintained that the continent must not accept any political system that ignores the need for reform, stressing that true development can only come through inclusive democracy and transparent leadership.

“We may have lost so much to political indifference and poor governance, but what is left is insignificant compared to what the future holds. We must work with like minds to reclaim the political process for progress,” Otti declared.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Conference, Prince Tonye Princewill, said sustainable development cannot be achieved through economic growth alone.

“When politics is reduced to a competition for power rather than a platform for service, progress falters. But when governance is guided by vision, transparency, inclusion, and accountability, nations rise,” he said.

The conference, with the theme “Politics, Resource Governance and Sustainable Development in Africa,” had participants from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Canada, and Australia.