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Former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Eze Madumere, has officially resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
In a resignation letter dated March 17, Madumere formally notified the party of his decision to leave.
“I write to formally notify you of my decision to resign my membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) effective immediately,” the letter read in part.
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He noted that the decision followed deep personal reflection on his political journey within the party, describing the move as difficult but necessary.
According to him, it had become important for him to pursue new political directions.
“The decision, though difficult, has become necessary after deep personal reflection on my political journey with the party. I sincerely feel it is time for me to explore new paths,” he stated.
Madumere also expressed appreciation for the relationships he built during his time in the party and hoped they would remain cordial.
“It is my utmost desire and expectation that we all continue to maintain the cordial relationship we have built over the years in our collective desire to build a better Nigeria,” he added.
The letter was addressed to the APC Chairman of Ezinihitte Ward in Mbiere, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
Madumere, who served as deputy governor during the administration of former Governor Rochas Okorocha, announced that his resignation from the ruling party takes immediate effect.
Madumere did not disclose which political party he plans to join but urged the party leadership and members to understand his decision as he considers other political platforms.
Nigeria’s electoral body, INEC, has initiated a comprehensive digital and grassroots campaign to address a decades long decline in voter participation, warning that the country’s democratic stability is at risk if its largest demographic remains alienated from the ballot box.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) formally introduced its 2026 Voter Education Manual on Wednesday, featuring a specialized version tailored specifically for young citizens. The strategy, launched in the capital in collaboration with the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), represents the first major civic education overhaul under the leadership of Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), who assumed the chairmanship in late 2025.
The move marks a critical juncture in the preparations for the 2027 general elections, as the commission seeks to reverse a historical trend of voter apathy that saw turnout plummet to a record low of 26.7 percent in the 2023 cycle. By focusing on “peer to peer” storytelling and digital engagement, officials hope to bridge a persistent trust gap between the state and a population where over 60 percent of citizens are under the age of 35.
“To our youth, who constitute the vast majority of our registered voters, this manual was designed for you,” Amupitan said in a statement delivered by National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna. The chairman noted that the commission has moved away from traditional top down communication, opting instead to “meet the 21st century voter where they are” through visual media and social platforms.
The timing of the manual’s release coincides with the implementation of the Electoral Act 2026, which was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in February. The updated legislation introduces several structural shifts aimed at modernizing the Nigerian electoral landscape. Key provisions include the mandatory electronic transmission of results from polling units and a requirement for the federal government to release all election funding to INEC at least six months before a general poll.
Institutional changes under the new Act also address voter accessibility. For the first time, Nigerian citizens will be permitted to download their voter cards directly from the INEC website, a measure intended to eliminate the logistical bottlenecks associated with physical card distribution. Furthermore, the 2026 Act has overhauled the list of accepted identification for registration, now strictly limited to the National Identification Number (NIN), Nigerian passports, and birth certificates to ensure data integrity.
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Despite these technical advancements, the commission remains focused on the human element of the process. Haruna expressed deep concern over the “steady decline” in participation since Nigeria’s transition to civilian rule in 1999. In the first post military elections, turnout stood at approximately 52 percent, a figure that has effectively halved over the last 25 years. “A democracy populated by many indifferent citizens is a democracy in retreat,” Amupitan’s statement read, characterizing the 70 percent of eligible voters who stayed home in previous years as a threat to the legitimacy of the government.
To execute the new education strategy, INEC is leveraging the reach of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA). Under a new partnership agreement, corps members serving their mandatory year of national service will be trained as civic educators within their host communities. This “trust equity” model relies on the premise that young Nigerians are more likely to accept information regarding the Electoral Act 2026 when it is delivered by their peers rather than government officials.
Lanre Issa Onilu, Director General of the NOA, described the initiative as “timely and strategic,” noting that the voter manuals would be integrated into the NYSC Community Development Service platform. This ensures that voter education is not a seasonal event but a continuous presence in all 774 local government areas.
