Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has blamed South-East leaders for the poor participation of eligible voters in the recently concluded online voters registration exercise conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Ohanaeze said following a thorough investigation into the dismal registration figures of eligible voters in the South-East, it is compelled to deliver this unvarnished truth to the Igbo people.
The pan-lgbo group stated that the figures are stark and deeply concerning, adding that throughout the one-week online registration exercise from August 18 to August 25, 2025, the South-East region recorded just 1,998 new voter registrations.
This is contained in a statement issued on Monday by the factional Deputy President-General of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Chief Thompson Ohia, and made available to journalists in Abakaliki.
The organisation noted that the abysmal figures stand in stark contrast to the 1.3 million new voters registered nationwide.
“Astonishingly, the South-West region registered a staggering 848,359 new voters, followed by the North-Central region with 250,218.
“These figures represent a profound and unacceptable underperformance for the South-East.
“Therefore, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, driven by an unwavering commitment to the welfare and future of Ndigbo, issues this imperative: Every eligible Igbo voter must, without hesitation, register during the ongoing INEC in-person voters registration exercise.
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“Our internal investigations reveal a catastrophic failure of leadership and a glaring lack of awareness among the South-East electorate regarding the significance of the online registration process.
“The absence of participation in Anambra State, where not a single individual registered, is particularly egregious and demands immediate condemnation.
“We hold all political leaders in Anambra State accountable, including Governor Charles Soludo and former Governor Peter Obi, for their dereliction of duty,” the body said.
It asserted that the failure to mobilize eligible citizens for the exercise represents a betrayal of trust.
“The blame, however, extends far beyond Anambra State. We castigate the South-East governors, whose focus on a narrow political agenda has demonstrably overshadowed the paramount political interests of the Igbo people.
“While Ohanaeze Ndigbo itself acknowledges its own shortcomings in this endeavor, the traditional rulers and civil rights groups are also implicated in this collective failure.
“This irresponsible conduct has rendered the South-East a political caricature in the eyes of the nation.
“These leaders have committed a grave political sacrilege, an unforgivable blunder, by failing to mobilize the Igbo people for this vital registration process.
“We cannot afford to be excluded from this critical electoral process. Failure to register will have dire consequences,” it added.
