The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Canada chapter has raised concern over reports showing low voter registration figures in Nigeria’s South-East region. The group urged Igbo people at home and abroad to take voter registration seriously ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing that political participation is key to regional development.

In a statement issued on Friday, the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Toronto, Canada, Anicetus Nwizundu, described voter registration as more than a civic responsibility. He said it is a strategic tool that gives the South-East a stronger voice in national affairs, warning that low registration numbers could weaken the region’s influence at federal, state and local government levels.

Nwizundu noted that recent data showing fewer registered voters in the South-East compared to other regions was troubling. According to him, a low voter base limits the zone’s bargaining power when it comes to attracting development projects such as roads, hospitals, schools and other social services. He appealed to South-East governors to intensify campaigns encouraging residents to register, adding that deliberate efforts are needed to reverse the trend.

He also called on traders and business owners to consider closing shops on voter registration days to allow for wider participation. In addition, the Ohanaeze leader urged Igbo communities in the diaspora, especially those in Canada, to support the process by encouraging their families and friends back home to register, noting that ignorance and apathy negatively affect leadership choices and policy outcomes.