2019 Elections - Ahamefula Writes on General Elections

2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS AND THE ISSUE OF VOTER APATHY 

According to a German poet, playwright, and theatrical reformer, E.F Bertolt Brecht “the worst illiterate is the political illiterate; he doesn't know that from his political ignorance is born the numerous illnesses that can afflict any given society: The prostitute, the abandoned child, the jobless man, and the worst thieves of all -- the bad politician”.
Similarly, it is safe to assert that this country of ours isn't ruined by the bad but by the good who fails to do nothing.


The recently concluded presidential and national assembly elections has once again brought to fore the issue of voters’ apathy in the country. According to reports, voters turn out during the February 23rd poll wasn’t in any way encouraging.

In Abia for instance, reports had it that only 323,291 persons , representing 18% of the entire registered population of 1,932,892 voted during this exercise.
According to statistics from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, only 34.75% of 84,004,084 registered voters participated in the voting process. This implies that over 65.25% of registered voters did not vote. This simply connotes that 55,389,894 registered voters did not vote. Indeed, this is a dangerous trend that must essentially be a source of serious concern to all genuine stakeholders in the polity.

This growing trend has grievous implications on the prospect of democracy in the country. For instance, it makes elected political leaders unaccountable to the people since they did not, in the real sense, derive their coming to power from the majority of registered voters. Also, it makes it a bit hypocritical for those who did not turn out to vote to criticise those who were elected through the same process that they shunned. As it is often said, ‘you cannot have your cake and eat it’.
Indeed, lots of factors are responsible for voters’ apathy in the country. For one, some of those who shun the polls could be of the notion that their votes do not really count since they believe either rightly or wrongly that the outcome of most elections in the country are pre-determined.
However, irrespective of the validity of the reasons, as highlighted above, it is counterproductive for the people to shun polls in a democracy. It should be recalled that some people gave their lives for us to enjoy the democracy that we have today. It is, therefore, a great injustice to their memories, if this culture of voters’ apathy continues.

Similarly, it is safe to assert that this country of ours isn't ruined by the bad but by the good who fails to do nothing.


The recently concluded presidential and national assembly elections has once again brought to fore the issue of voters’ apathy in the country. According to reports, voters turn out during the February 23rd poll wasn’t in any way encouraging.

In Abia for instance, reports had it that only 323,291 persons , representing 18% of the entire registered population of 1,932,892 voted during this exercise.
According to statistics from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, only 34.75% of 84,004,084 registered voters participated in the voting process. This implies that over 65.25% of registered voters did not vote. This simply connotes that 55,389,894 registered voters did not vote. Indeed, this is a dangerous trend that must essentially be a source of serious concern to all genuine stakeholders in the polity.

This growing trend has grievous implications on the prospect of democracy in the country. For instance, it makes elected political leaders unaccountable to the people since they did not, in the real sense, derive their coming to power from the majority of registered voters. Also, it makes it a bit hypocritical for those who did not turn out to vote to criticise those who were elected through the same process that they shunned. As it is often said, ‘you cannot have your cake and eat it’.
Indeed, lots of factors are responsible for voters’ apathy in the country. For one, some of those who shun the polls could be of the notion that their votes do not really count since they believe either rightly or wrongly that the outcome of most elections in the country are pre-determined.
However, irrespective of the validity of the reasons, as highlighted above, it is counterproductive for the people to shun polls in a democracy. It should be recalled that some people gave their lives for us to enjoy the democracy that we have today. It is, therefore, a great injustice to their memories, if this culture of voters’ apathy continues.

As we prepare for March 9th Gubernatorial and State Houses of Assembly polls, It should be infused into the consciousness of every Nigerian, from young to old, that voter apathy is one of the major challenges of democracy and its dividends in today's Nigeria, bearing in mind that the future of our dear country is in their hands.
Lets make an impact through our vote. It really counts!

Ahamefula Israel, a Bureaucrat, sent in this piece from uturu,Abia State. Email- anyameleisrael@gmail.com