Anambra 2025: KDI Expresses Concern Over Worsening Voter Apathy

Anambra 2025: KDI Expresses Concern Over Worsening Voter Apathy

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja 

The Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) has raised concern over worsening voter apathy ahead of the November 2025 governorship election in Anambra State, warning that deepening disillusionment could weaken the credibility of the polls.

The warning came on Friday in Abuja at the public presentation of KDI’s Pre-Election Security Risk Assessment (ESRA), where the Team Lead, Bukola Idowu, said the state’s history of low turnout poses a significant threat to the democratic process.

Figures from past elections show that turnout has collapsed from 21 per cent in 2017 to just 10.3 per cent in 2021, despite Anambra’s reputation for vibrant political competition. Idowu explained that the trend is closely linked to insecurity, unemployment, misinformation, and declining trust in democratic institutions.

“The steady decline in voter turnout is not just a statistic; it is a reflection of how insecurity and distrust are undermining participation in Anambra. If nothing is done urgently to rebuild confidence, the November election may be decided by a fraction of the electorate,” Idowu said.

The report categorised all 21 local government areas of Anambra into three tiers of risk. Ihiala and Aguata were identified as severe risk zones, while fifteen LGAs including Awka South, Ogbaru, Onitsha North, Anaocha, and Idemili North fell into the high-risk category. Four others, among them Onitsha South and Nnewi South, were placed in the moderate-risk bracket.

“In 2021, insecurity in Ihiala was so severe that INEC could not conduct voting on the main election day, resorting instead to a supplementary poll. That pattern must never repeat itself. Fear has become a political instrument, and when insecurity determines turnout, democracy is in jeopardy,” Idowu warned.

KDI highlighted that political violence remains a persistent shadow over Anambra’s elections, noting that rivalry among parties has increasingly tilted toward resentment. It also stressed that public trust in security agencies is dangerously low, describing it as a “red zone” for electoral credibility.

KDI further identified structural risks such as youth unemployment, gender-based vulnerabilities, and hidden identity tensions that could be exploited during campaigns. “Economic discontent among young people is a risk multiplier. When this combines with poor trust in institutions and the spread of misinformation, the danger of unrest grows,” Idowu added.

Also speaking at the Abuja event, the Convener of Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Y. Z. Ya’u, described the report as an excellent contribution to Nigeria’s electoral development. He noted that the assessment was crucial in helping stakeholders anticipate likely challenges and design mitigation strategies before election day.

“This kind of report is very useful not only for security agencies but also for observers and electoral officials. It helps us to understand the terrain, anticipate challenges, and prepare ahead of time. That way, when we deploy observers, we are guided by data and context,” Ya’u said.

In her goodwill message, the Deputy Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Omolara Akinyeye, commended KDI’s consistency in electoral risk reporting. She stressed that early warning signals and hotspot mapping would be critical in preparing for the Anambra poll.

“It is quite important that we know the hotspots ahead of time so that as we make our preparations, we do not run into avoidable dangers. You cannot go wrong with data, and that is why this report is significant,” Akinyeye said.

Similarly, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) representative, William Robinson, hailed KDI’s work as timely and vital.

He emphasised the need for government institutions, political actors, civil society, and citizens to collaborate in ensuring peaceful, inclusive, and credible elections.

“By identifying risks and offering practical recommendations, civil society can play a vital role in promoting transparency, reducing violence, and fostering public trust. Elections are not a one-day event but a continuous process that demands vigilance, collaboration, and courage,” Robinson said.

KDI, a civic non-profit dedicated to strengthening democracy and good governance through citizen participation and electoral risk analysis, stressed that coordinated action by INEC, security agencies, political actors, and civil society will be crucial to ensuring peaceful and credible polls in November.