Okorie (middle) with top officials of IAD during a press conference in Enugu recently… Photo Credit: Tony Adibe
By Tony Adibe, Enugu
The Convener and National Chairman of a pressure group, the Igbo Agenda Dialogue (IAD), Chief Chekwas Okorie, has appealed to Ndigbo within Nigeria and the diaspora to utilize what he regarded as an “auspicious opportunity” in the 2027 general elections to reclaim their political relevance through massive voter registration and participation.
In an open letter addressed to Ndigbo on March 16, 2026, Okorie emphasised that the Igbo ethnic nationality remains one of the largest and most widely spread populations in Nigeria. He said that their numerical strength should translate into significant political influence.
Okorie explained that despite the absence of a national population census since 2006, several studies indicate that Igbo people make up about 99 percent of the population in the South-East geopolitical zone and are among the largest ethnic groups in many other states across the federation. He added that indigenous Igbo populations are present in at least 13 states in the country.
He said that in a democratic system such as Nigeria’s, electoral success “is largely determined by population size and geographical spread”, arguing that a politically conscious Igbo electorate should naturally be a decisive factor in the country’s power dynamics.
Concern Over Voter Apathy
The IAD leader, who also spoke about voter apathy, however, expressed concern over the challenge in the South-East, describing voter apathy as a “major obstacle to Igbo political advancement.”
Referencing data released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from the 2023 elections, Okorie said the South-East recorded about 11.5 million registered voters, but only 2.2 million participated in the presidential election.
He described the situation as troubling, stressing that “about 9.3 million registered voters from the region failed to vote”.
“We cannot continue to do this to ourselves,” Okorie warned, urging eligible voters to take advantage of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise provided through INEC’s online portal.
He also highlighted new innovations that allow voters to change their polling units online, which he said have significantly reduced the chances of disenfranchisement on election day.
Political Implications
Okorie listed several consequences of voter apathy among Ndigbo, including the loss of the opportunity to influence leadership selection and diminished political bargaining power across the country’s Politics.
He said that possession of a valid voter card could also determine participation in critical democratic processes such as referendums, plebiscites, state creation exercises, or the recall of elected representatives.
He further argued that in the absence of an updated national census, the number of votes cast by an ethnic group often becomes a practical measure of its political relevance.
IAD Mobilization Plan
As part of efforts to address the challenge, Okorie said the Igbo Agenda Dialogue has begun a nationwide advocacy campaign aimed at promoting political awareness and voter mobilization among Igbo people.
He explained that the initiative would involve town hall meetings across major Nigerian cities and collaboration with Igbo unions, youth organizations, women groups, civil society groups, and pro-democracy bodies. The group has also established an operational office in the United States to coordinate engagement with the Igbo diaspora.
Target of 35 Million Igbo Votes
Okorie disclosed that the group has set a target of increasing the number of registered voters in the South-East to 20 million before the end of the ongoing voter registration exercise. Also, the organization aims to mobilize about 15 million registered Igbo voters in other parts of the country, according to Okorie.
Achieving a voting bloc of at least 35 million Igbo voters in the 2027 general elections would significantly reposition Ndigbo in Nigeria’s political equation, he said.
He concluded the letter with a call for unity and participation, urging all Igbo people not to ignore what he described as a crucial moment in the political future of the ethnic nationality. He quickly added: “Let no Igbo be left out of embracing this clarion call.”
