Alex Otti, the Governor of Abia State, has issued a stark warning regarding the decreasing number of Nigerians participating in elections. Speaking on Thursday in Umuahia during a lecture commemorating the third anniversary of his administration, Otti expressed concern that only 27% of registered voters actually cast ballots in the 2023 general elections.
He cautioned that voter apathy in Abia and across Nigeria could pave the way for incompetent or dishonest individuals to ascend to power. Otti emphasized that when citizens register but fail to vote, they inadvertently create an opening for corrupt or unprepared candidates to take control.
The governor acknowledged widespread disillusionment with the electoral process due to irregularities, but he argued that this should not be a reason to abandon the nation’s political future to unscrupulous elements. “You can say sometimes that when you come and exercise your will, it does not count,” he stated. “If votes do not count, why do politicians campaign? They could just sit down and write the results.”
In a related development, Otti announced the inclusion of commissioners for tertiary education, health, and basic and secondary education in the Abia State Security Council. This move aims to bolster security within the educational sector. He noted that while his administration has significantly reduced kidnapping, banditry, and armed robbery, cultism remains a persistent challenge that must be tackled, starting from schools. “The other day, cultists went on a rampage and killed some people in Aba, and then we traced them back to the schools,” Otti revealed.