2011 Poll: INEC Confirms Voter Apathy, Says Only 35% Participated

Prof. Attahiru Jega, INEC Chairman

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Thursday expressed concern at the level of voter apathy in last April’s  general election, saying the situation calls for serious concern.

The electoral body disclosed that only about 35 percent  of the 70 million voters participated in the election which it said is not good enough.

This is notwithstanding that the election produced the President, about 26 state Governors and hundreds of legislators for federal and state assemblies

According to figures released by the commission at a workshop in Abuja,  only about 35 per cent of the over 70 million registered voters participated in the elections.

Speaking  at the event Thursday, Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega   who described the workshop as part of the commission’s effort “to extend the frontiers of citizenship and widen the scope of participation in elections and governance processes,” noted that the low participation of Nigerians in the polls is a clear indication of  political apathy in Nigeria.

 Jega who was represented by one of the National Commissioners in the commission and Chair of the Board of INEC’s Electoral Institute, Prof. Lai Olurode, noted; “There exists voter’s apathy in Nigeria and this is no longer contentious. Voters’ turnout in the just concluded general elections had provided a scientific and empirical evidence of the existence of voter’s apathy and non-challance of sections of the electorate  in elections.”

“The National Assembly elections, the Presidential election and the Gubernatorial and those of the State Assembly elections conducted in April showed that voters’ turnout hovered around 35%. This ugly scenario has implications for popular participation and governance.

“We, as a commission, are determined to enlarge participation in the election processes as a well cherished means of aggregating preferences. This is, because, an apathetic citizenry contribute to wastage of investments/committed to procuring sensitive election materials as well as money spent on voters’ education activities and election personnel remuneration.”

In the research report commissioned by INEC and undertaken by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation, lack of transparent elections, election violence and politicians’ non-committal to their campaign promises were identified as major reasons for voters’ apathy in the country.