The Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Toronto, Canada chapter, has expressed sadness over reports of low number of registered voters in the South-East, calling on all Igbos to register enmasse for the 2027 general elections.
The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Toronto, Canada, Anicetus Nwizundu, made the call in a statement on Friday.
“Registering to vote is not just a civic duty; it is a strategic move to ensure that our region’s interests are adequately represented at all levels of government—federal, state, and local,” he stated.
He regretted the recent data showing that much fewer Igbo people in the South-East region have registered, compared to other parts of Nigeria.
According to him, the development constitutes a serious problem because it means the South-East will have less influence and less benefits, when decisions are made at the national level.
“An active electorate translates into a stronger bargaining power for our communities. When more citizens are registered and vote, we can advocate more effectively for projects that uplift our region—be it roads, hospitals, schools, or other critical social services.”
He also appealed to the governors of the South-East states to do more to encourage their people to register, pointing out that there would be fewer registered people in the zone unless they drummed the campaign.
Nwizundu asked traders and shop owners to close their shops on registration days to enable widespread participation, noting that ignorance undermines leadership choice and policy direction.
The Ohanaeze leader further called on other Igbo communities abroad, especially in Canada, to help spread the message and support registration efforts in Igboland by talking to their families and friends back home.
