By Seyi Odewale
The apex Igbo socio-cultural body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has indicted the political leadership in the South-East, blaming governors, traditional rulers, civil groups, and top politicians—including Governor Chukwuma Soludo and former governor, Peter Obi, for what it described as an “abysmal failure” to mobilise the region’s electorate during the recently concluded online voter registration exercise conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to Ohanaeze, the South-East recorded a shocking total of only 1,998 new registrations between August 18 and 25, compared to 1.3 million nationwide.
The South-West alone registered 848,359 new voters, while the North-Central region recorded 250,218 new voters.
In Anambra State, no new registrations were recorded.
“This is not only unacceptable but a grave political sacrilege,” declared Ohanaeze Deputy President General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, in a joint statement with the group’s national Spokesman, Chief Thompson Ohia.
“The South-east has been made a political caricature in the eyes of the nation. The failure of our leaders to mobilise our people is an unforgivable betrayal.”
Ohanaeze pointedly accused the South-East governors of prioritising narrow political agendas at the expense of the region’s strategic interests.
“Governor Chukwuma Soludo and former governor Peter Obi cannot escape blame for the shameful zero registration recorded in Anambra.
“The South-east Governors as a whole have failed to defend Igbo political relevance. Traditional rulers and civil rights groups also share in this collective failure,” the statement said.
While admitting its own shortcomings in sensitising the electorate, Ohanaeze insisted that elected leaders bear ultimate responsibility for the poor outcome.
“This dereliction has left our people voiceless in the national political equation. Our leaders have failed to grasp that without voter registration, cries of marginalisation become hollow and self-inflicted,” the body warned.
With INEC’s in-person registration now open until August 31, 2026, Ohanaeze said redemption is possible if urgent steps are taken.
The group announced that it would pressure governors, local government chairmen under ALGON, traditional rulers, religious leaders, market associations, student unions, and town unions to mobilise every eligible Igbo person to register.
“This is a clarion call, a rallying cry. Ndigbo must seize control of their destiny. We cannot afford to be excluded again,” the statement read.
The group warned that failure to take advantage of the ongoing registration exercise would have dire political consequences.
“If the South-East does not rise to the occasion, the region will continue to be excluded from the centre. The cries of marginalisation will only deepen, and this time, it will be self-inflicted,” Ohanaeze declared.
The body emphasised that voting strength is the most powerful bargaining chip in Nigeria’s political landscape.
“No one will take the South-east seriously until our numbers speak for us. The opportunity is here, and it must not be wasted,” it concluded.
