When you live in a society overwhelmed by compounding crises and chaos, it’s nearly impossible to go a day without wondering where we’re headed. The unraveling destruction cuts across all sectors, driven by a woefully failed system. At this point, nothing seems to be working—every industry has lost its value, and for the past eight years, we’ve lived almost entirely in the dark.
In the past few weeks, it’s been impossible to scroll through social media without seeing topics on voting rights, permanent voters’ card (PVC) acquisition, elections, and political apathy. Since we claim to practice democracy, nothing is more fundamental than the right to vote—especially in times like these.
Recently, different celebrities have taken bold steps, using their platforms to encourage political participation centered around voting. Just a few days ago, some of these stars organized a free mega concert themed “Youths Vote Count” to sensitize Nigerian youths on the importance of voting.
With the likes of Toyin Abraham, Mr. Macaroni, 2Baba, and others leading the charge, it’s obvious that we’ve reached the far edge of the cliff.
It’s Never Been This Way
For the first time in history, Nigerians are deliberately taking steps to exercise their voting rights. There has never been a time like this in Nigeria’s history when the desire to vote has been so high.
People are no longer afraid of how things might turn out. We are beginning to believe that every citizen has the right to vote for their preferred candidate or party—without fear of retribution.
In a multi-ethnic country like Nigeria, it’s surprising to see how many people are so certain about what they want, when they want it, and how they want it.
According to INEC, there’s been an unprecedented surge in voter registration, with about 7 million youths registering for their PVCs within just two weeks. Incredible!
The Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, confirmed this in a statement:
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received reports from our states indicating an unprecedented surge in the number of citizens wishing to register as voters and the challenges they face across the country. In some states, the sudden turnout of prospective registrants is overwhelming.”
It seems that many have finally come to terms with the fact that voting rights are the seed from which all other rights germinate.
Yesterday, a restaurant called Red Gourmet Kitchen offered a 13% meal discount to anyone who presented their PVC. A simple yet powerful incentive to encourage political participation.
Do Our Votes Really Count?
One of the key factors fueling political apathy in Nigeria is the lack of trust in the system—especially in the electoral process.
However, it seems people are fearlessly ready to take the risk this time because they finally believe that every vote counts.
With all the recent killings and sad events happening across the country, there’s a growing belief that these incidents are retaliatory efforts designed to slow down the tidal wave of change sweeping through the nation.
Knowing fully well that fear is one of the greatest enemies of change, many of these incidents appear to be carefully targeted to instill fear, leaving people paralyzed and afraid to exercise their rights.
A Fight for the Future
We are in a monumental struggle—not just for ourselves but for the generations to come.
Now is the time to boldly say the controversial truth: this isn’t some ethnic or tribal war. It’s a collective fight for something better.
Every vote matters. Every voice counts. We owe it to ourselves—and to the future—to stand strong and take action.
