Guber Poll: Group urges Anambra Electorates to Secure their Future with their Votes

By Praise Chinecherem

The Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC) has called on registered voters in Anambra state to come out enmass to exercise their franchise come November 8, 2025 governorship election in the state.

Executive Director, Ugochi Ehiahuruike who made the call in a statement on Wednesday said the appeal was necessary following 2021 guber poll that recorded one of the lowest in Nigeria’s electoral history with about 10 per cent of registered voters.

She said one sure way the citizens could demonstrate ownership of their future and strengthen legitimacy of governance was through exercise of their franchise.

She identified damaging consequences of voter apathy, including bad governance, cycle of underdevelopment, powerless citizens in decision-making processes, weakened accountability, among others.

The statement partly reads, “As Anambra State prepares for the forthcoming governorship election, the Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC), through its Project Impact, is calling on all registered voters to come out on November 8, 2025, to vote for the candidate of their choice, thereby making their voices count.

“With the recent Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise concluded, Anambra now has 2.8 million registered voters. SIDEC expects a massive turnout in this poll.

“Active citizen participation is the bedrock of democracy. When citizens vote, they make their count, influencing leadership choices, ensuring accountability, and shaping policies that directly impact their daily lives—whether in education, healthcare, job creation, or infrastructure.

“By exercising their franchise, Ndi Anambra will demonstrate ownership of their future by strengthening the legitimacy of governance.

“Not voting has damaging consequences. It creates room for leadership that does not reflect the will of the people, weakens accountability, and leaves citizens powerless in decision-making processes.

“Apathy also emboldens bad governance and perpetuates the cycle of underdevelopment.

“SIDEC appeals to traditional leaders, religious institutions, youth and women groups, and civil society organisations to join hands in mobilising communities.

“Every single vote matters, and citizens’ participation is critical in determining the future of Anambra State.

“Project IMPACT, SIDEC’s flagship intervention, is working towards increasing participation to at least 25 per cent turnout in the upcoming polls.

“This initiative is made possible with the generous support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room.”