Low Voter Turnout Marked Edo Governorship Election Amid Distrust

The recent Edo State governorship election witnessed historically low voter turnout, raising concerns about public confidence in the democratic process. Observers and voters expressed their apprehensions regarding the electoral process, citing distrust and lack of civic knowledge as contributing factors.

Israel Olatunji-Tijani, an election observer, reported to the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) about the discouraging participation rates observed across various local government areas, including Egor, Ikpoba/Okha, and Oredo. “Voter apathy could be attributed to citizens’ distrust in the electoral process and insufficient civic education and orientation,” Olatunji-Tijani stated.

He further explained that in some polling units, less than 10% of the registered voters participated. In a notable example, at the Edokpolor Fac-Oloh 1 polling unit in Ikpoba/Okha, only 93 out of 951 registered voters cast their votes. Similarly, at the Edokpolor-Oloh Motors polling unit, only 107 out of 1138 accredited voters exercised their franchise.

Analysis by FIJ highlighted that merely 9.40% of voters at Edokpolor-Oloh Motors showed up to vote, while 90.60% abstained. Furthermore, at Edokpolor Fac-Oloh 1, only 9.78% of eligible voters participated, with 90.22% staying away from the polls.

Sarah Samson, a participant in the Ikpoba/Okha election, described the process as peaceful but noted that many potential voters were deterred, possibly due to inclement weather. “There is a low turnout overall, and this may be due to the rain,” Samson told FIJ.

An anonymous Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) agent articulated that the 2024 election exhibited the lowest turnout compared to past elections. Another voter, identifying himself as Parry, linked the poor turnout to fear and lack of faith in the electoral system, “People are scared and also believe their votes won’t count,” Parry explained, reinforcing his belief in participating to make a difference.

The election was also marred by reports of vote-buying and electoral violence, as FIJ reported earlier. Some voters faced physical abuse at certain polling units, and delays in the voting process added to the day’s challenges.