Abia State Governor Alex Otti has voiced concern over what he described as persistently low voter turnout figures from Aba, despite the city’s large and economically active adult population.
Speaking during a church service at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Abayi Ariaria, Aba, the governor said election results from the commercial city often fail to reflect its true population strength.
Governor Otti used the occasion to urge residents to take advantage of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise being conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stressing that political participation begins with registration.
He encouraged Aba residents not only to register but also to mobilise family members, friends, and neighbours to do the same, warning that political apathy carries serious consequences for governance.
According to the governor, refusing to register or vote effectively hands power to leaders who may not have the people’s best interests at heart, a situation he said Abia must avoid at all costs.
Otti Urges Aba Residents to Match Population With Votes
Governor Otti said the disparity between Aba’s population size and the number of votes recorded during elections remains troubling, especially given the city’s role as Abia’s economic nerve centre.
He told the congregation that the difference between Aba’s voting population and its election turnout was stark and unacceptable, noting that civic disengagement weakens the city’s political influence.
“If you see the number in Aba and the number of votes that come out from Aba, it is like darkness and daylight,” Otti said.
He stressed that voter registration is not optional for citizens who want to shape leadership outcomes, adding that democracy functions best when people actively participate.
“If you have not registered, please go and register,” he urged.
The governor explained that registering to vote is the only legitimate pathway to influencing leadership choices and public policy, pointing out that voter turnout often determines whether progress is sustained or reversed.
He also cautioned that citizens who choose not to vote indirectly empower individuals whose leadership may undermine development gains.
“It is important; the only way you can ensure that we don’t go back to Egypt is for you to vote,” he said.
Governor Links Voting Apathy to Poor Leadership Outcomes
Governor Otti warned that failure to participate in elections amounts to surrendering civic responsibility, which could result in leadership that does not reflect the people’s aspirations.
He told Aba residents that remaining unregistered disqualifies them from the democratic process, regardless of their opinions or frustrations with governance.
“You cannot vote if you are not registered,” he stated.
The governor further quoted a widely held political principle, stressing that inaction during elections has consequences equal to making the wrong choice.
“If you do not vote, you have voted for the wrong people,” Otti said.
He added that the warning was not his personal invention but a long-standing democratic truth.
“I’m not the one who said it… not voting is voting for the wrong person,” he said.
INEC’s Continuous Voter Registration exercise is ongoing nationwide, allowing eligible Nigerians to register, transfer their voter cards, or update their details ahead of future elections.
More information is available on INEC’s official website at the Independent National Electoral Commission portal.
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