The ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recorded over 3.5 million online pre-registrations nationwide, but the South East is showing a worryingly low turnout.

According to INEC’s latest update, Osun leads with over 518,000 registrants, followed by Lagos (440,647), Ogun (348,217), and Borno (296,409). In contrast, South East states are far behind, with Enugu recording only 1,203 registrations, the lowest in the country. Ebonyi (1,616) and Abia (2,629) are not far ahead.

This has sparked concerns among stakeholders.

Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai recently urged South East residents to take voter registration seriously, stressing that political power in a democracy comes only through participation.

Similarly, Enugu APC chairman Ugochukwu Agballah acknowledged the low numbers but argued it’s too early to panic, warning that a last-minute rush could overwhelm registration centres.

Public affairs analyst Nduka Odo, however, linked the poor turnout to deep-seated political apathy in the region. According to him, many residents feel alienated from the Nigerian political system, a sentiment rooted in the aftermath of the civil war. He warned that staying away from registration would only weaken the South East’s bargaining power at the national level.

On the other hand, Enugu lawmaker Malachy Onyechi believes the problem lies more with the habit of postponement and economic distractions. He said efforts are ongoing to mobilize rural communities and raise awareness so more residents can register before the exercise ends.

For now, all eyes are on the region to see if sensitization campaigns will change the tide and ensure stronger participation in the weeks ahead.