APC chieftain launches voter education drive in Ekiti citing 73% turnout deficit

A senior member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has launched a targeted voter education campaign in Aramoko, Ekiti State, citing significant concerns over low electoral participation in the region. Acting as a member of the 2027 Presidential Campaign Council for President Bola Tinubu and the APC, engineer Atinuke Owolabi launched an awareness campaign to tackle what she characterized as a troubling level of voter disengagement. The campaign is designed to reverse the trend of low turnout, boost overall electoral participation, and reduce the number of rejected ballots ahead of the 2027 general election.

Owolabi made these disclosures during a community engagement and voter education programme held in Aramoko, located in the Ekiti Central Senatorial District. Under the slogan “My Vote, My Voice,” the gathering was designed to instruct locals on the significance of casting ballots and enhance their comprehension of how elections are conducted. The initiative also functioned to bolster the re-election campaigns of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele. During the session, the organizers released a voter education manual aimed at assisting residents in learning about electoral procedures, locating their designated polling stations, and grasping the correct methods for democratic participation.

Background

The decision to launch this specific campaign was driven by statistical data from the 2023 presidential election. Owolabi shared data showing that Ekiti State had 988,923 registered voters, with 315,058 of them being accredited. In that election, 308,171 valid votes were cast, while 6,301 ballots were rejected. However, the focus of the new initiative is on the ward-level records for Aramoko I and Aramoko II. Owolabi stated that while these two wards collectively possessed 17,426 registered voters, merely 4,680 ballots were submitted in the presidential contest. This discrepancy meant that approximately 12,746 registered voters did not participate, representing roughly 73 per cent of the electorate in those specific wards. Characterizing these numbers as a grave issue, Owolabi observed that roughly 27 out of every 100 registered voters in Aramoko I and II actually cast a ballot. She attributed the low participation to inadequate information in rural communities, which often discourages voting or leads to invalid votes.

Why it matters

The campaign aims to awaken the civic consciousness of residents in Aramoko to ensure the community fully utilises its voting strength in future elections. Owolabi stressed that voter education is a critical tool for strengthening democracy, particularly in areas where lack of information hinders participation. She highlighted that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has undertaken development projects in the area, specifically citing a road project from Elisha to Ado-Ekiti, which is currently under construction. Owolabi argued that the community needs to understand the right way to vote to benefit more from such administrative initiatives. The initiative seeks to ensure that residents are not only aware of their rights but also equipped with the practical knowledge to cast valid ballots, thereby reducing the number of rejected votes in Ekiti State.

What happens next

The sensitisation exercise is part of broader political activities that are gradually gathering momentum ahead of the 2027 general election. By providing the voter education handbook and conducting community engagements, the APC chieftain and her team aim to change the narrative of low turnout in Aramoko. The goal is to ensure that the high number of registered voters translates into actual participation in the next electoral cycle, addressing the specific deficit identified in the 2023 results.