The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says more than 3.5 million Nigerians have completed online pre-registration for the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, just three weeks after it kicked off.
According to a statement issued Monday by Sam Olumekun, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, and made available to The News Chronicle, 3,544,850 citizens had signed up online as of September 7.
A state-by-state breakdown shows Osun leading with 518,635 registrants, followed by Lagos (440,647), Ogun (348,217), and Borno (296,409). At the bottom of the chart are Abia (2,629), Ebonyi (1,616), and Enugu, with the lowest figure of just 1,203.
While the South-West dominates turnout, northern states are stepping up mobilization efforts.
The South-East, however, continues to lag alarmingly behind a development that has sparked concern among political leaders and analysts.
Meanwhile, former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai last week urged South-Easterners to take the exercise seriously, warning that low participation could further weaken the region’s political influence.
“Voting is a civic duty. Looking at the numbers, the South-East is lagging behind the rest of Nigeria. Please, go out and register, it is very important,” he said during an event in Imo State.
In the same vain, Enugu APC chairman, Ugochukwu Agballah, admitted that the turnout was poor but insisted it was “too early to judge.” He warned against last-minute rushes and urged community leaders and cultural groups to drive mobilization.
“The tendency of our people to wait until the last moment will only cause congestion. I encourage them to come out in time,” he said.
Public affairs analyst Nduka Odo argued that the challenge goes beyond mobilization. He linked the South-East’s low numbers to entrenched political apathy and disillusionment with the system.
“Many feel they have nothing to gain from Nigeria’s political structure, a sentiment rooted in the aftermath of the civil war,” Odo said. “But staying away from registration only weakens the region’s bargaining power at the centre.”
In Enugu, state legislator Malachy Onyechi blamed the trend on residents’ habit of delaying voter registration. He said rural campaigns are underway to boost awareness.
“Our people are always relaxed when it comes to registration, leaving things till the dying minutes. We are mobilizing rural dwellers and sensitizing them,” he said, noting that economic pressures also play a role.
With over 3.5 million Nigerians already signed up, INEC’s CVR exercise is off to a strong start nationwide. However, unless the South-East ramps up its participation, stakeholders warn that it risks deepening its political marginalization in future elections.
