The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Canada, has advised Igbos who are based in different States outside the South East to ensure that they conclude every celebration in their villages and return to their bases before the January 16, 2027, presidential election.
The group said such planned travel arrangements would ensure that the Igbos vote en mass for the presidential candidate of their choice.
The counsel was given by the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Canada, Anicetus Nwuzundu in a statement he issued on Tuesday.
According to Nwuzundu, the 2027 presidential election should be considered more important to the socio-economic survival of every Igbo person than festivities.
He cautioned the Igbos who did not transfer their voting permits from their city of residence to their villages, to ensure that they round up every ceremony in their villages and head back to their places of residence to cast their votes.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Canada, which maintained neutrality on the choice of political party and presidential candidate, warned that failure by the Igbos to exercise their full voting rights may deny them the opportunity of electing a President of their choice.
"In order to participate in the presidential election, we, therefore, advise Ndigbo who plan to travel to Igboland in December 2026 or January 2027 for holidays, family get-togethers, traditional ceremonies, or other personal reasons to carefully plan their travels and make sure they return to their voting locations before January 16, 2027.
"In order to avoid missing this crucial democratic activity, we also advise people whose travels are not critical to think about delaying or canceling them," the group said.
Presidential election: Return to your voting locations before January 16 - Diaspora group to Igbos