By Izunna Okafor, Awka
As part of efforts to strengthen democratic participation and ensure credible governorship election in Anambra State come November 8, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa), in collaboration with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room and with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom, on Friday held a major sensitization and awareness campaign in Awka, the capital city of the state.
The awareness rally, tagged “Mandate Protection Campaign”, began with an energetic street procession that took off from the capital city and moved through major streets and junctions in Awka, including the ever-busy Regina Caeli axis. The rally also saw the participants distributing flyers to motorists, traders, Keke drivers, shop owners, food vendors, and pedestrians, urging them to massively participate in the forthcoming election and also protect their vote to ensure it counts.
The exercise also featured advocacy messages delivered through vests, placards, banners, and public address systems, encouraging voters to collect and their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ready ahead of the poll, avoid vote-selling, and turn out in large numbers on election day to exercise their franchise, which is also their mandate and part of their civic responsibility. The campaign emphasized on active civic participation, mandate protection, and peaceful electoral conduct as key components of credible democracy.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the rally, the Election Consultant at CDD-West Africa, Chibuike Mgbeahuruike, explained that the sensitization was part of a week-long pre-election program designed to mobilize citizens and discourage voter apathy in the state. He said the initiative, supported by the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room and FCDO, aimed to remind the electorate that true democracy can only thrive when citizens participate actively in choosing their leaders.
He stressed that the idea behind “mandate protection” was to inspire voters to go beyond mere voting by ensuring their votes count, maintaining vigilance during and after casting their ballots, and discouraging any form of electoral malpractice or intimidation. According to him, the campaign also seeks to counter the growing culture of vote-selling and transactional politics, which undermines the credibility of elections.
“The campaign aims not only to raise higher voter turnout but to change some of the behaviours seen on election day and during collation. So, we urge citizens to lock their shops, go vote and remain at polling and collation points to guard their ballots to see that the results reflect their true will as a people, because democracy is the government of the people, by the people, and for the people,” he stated.
Mgbeahuruike further highlighted that Anambra State has consistently suffered low voter turnout in past elections, with only about 10 percent participation in the last gubernatorial poll.
He consequently urged residents to reverse this trend by turning out in large numbers on November 8, asserting that true legitimacy can only come from the majority’s mandate. The advocacy, he reemphasized, is part of CDD-West Africa’s ongoing commitment to promoting electoral integrity, peaceful participation, and citizen-driven democracy in Nigeria.
Responding to questions about impression some people have that their votes don’t count, the CDD Consultant emphasized that voters must resist the notion that “votes don’t count,” insisting that persistent participation is the only way to achieve change.
“You cannot withdraw from the process and expect transformation; and you must vote first before your vote will count,” he maintained, adding that the Mandate Protection Campaign also partners with security agencies to monitor polling units and swiftly address any electoral infractions observed on the field.
According to him, citizens are encouraged to report any incidents of vote-buying, intimidation, result manipulation, or delayed collation to the Situation Room for prompt intervention. He noted that this collaboration between civil society and security agencies ensures greater accountability and real-time response both before, during, and after the election.
Also speaking, the President of the International Peace and Civil Responsibility Centre and Chairman of the Anambra Civil Society Network, Prince Chris Azor, described the awareness campaign as the climax of sustained voter education efforts across the state. He stated that the activity built upon earlier engagements with INEC officials, security agencies, civil society groups, and grassroots communities to prepare Anambra residents for meaningful and peaceful participation in the poll.
Also expressing concern over voter apathy in the state, Prince Azor, who noted that the last off-cycle governorship election in the state recorded single-digit turnout in many areas, emphasized that this campaign seeks to address and bring solution to this persistent trend, with target of a far higher turnout and participation this time, given that the state has high figure of over 2.8 million registered voters, half of which alone would deliver an unarguable popular mandate. He said the Mandate Protection initiative, designed to change this narrative, not only encourages citizens to vote but to also ensure that their votes are counted and protected.
He observed that CDD and its partners had already conducted voter education campaigns across the 21 local government areas of Anambra State, reaching over 60,000 people directly. The effort, he said, also included training of election observers to monitor polling units, especially in areas identified as flashpoints of electoral malpractice or violence.
Azor further explained that the awareness program addressed both physical and online electoral threats, including misinformation and cyber manipulation, which he said often discourage citizens, especially women, from participating in elections. He urged the media to continue setting public agenda around voter education, participation, and electoral transparency to strengthen public trust in the democratic process.
More photos from the event:
