INEC records 179,598 registrations in Kaduna
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kaduna State, Dr Asma’u Sani, says 179,598 residents in the state have registered online for their voter’s cards.
Sani said this while presenting a paper, titled: “State of Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) Exercise in Kaduna State,” at a one-day seminar organised by the Supreme Council of Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) on Thursday in Kaduna.
Sani noted that there has been a slight improvement in voter’s card registration since the commencement of the third phase of the exercise, where online registration increased remarkably to 179,598, as at Jan. 24, 2022.
She, however, stated that more still needed to be done, to push for the physical capture which is at 55,748 on Jan. 24, 2022, being the most important step to complete the registration process.
According to her, the commission is working tirelessly to address problems associated with the conducts of CVR, but the spate of insecurity has hindered the agency.
She said the commission is currently meeting with the stakeholders, to find a lasting solution to the registration issue.
“The exercise has been hindered by clashes between herders and farmers, which claimed many lives as witnessed in Kaura, Zangon-Kataf and Kachia LGAs.
“We also have a partial conduct of the registration in some LGAs; due to the activities of bandits and kidnappers, telecommunications services were shut down in seven LGAs across the state.”
She urged stakeholders such as non-governmental and faith-based organisations and the traditional rulers not to relent in sensitising the citizens on the need to participate in the ongoing CVR.
“Our prayers is for the CVR to be successfully conducted in Kaduna State, to enable all eligible voters to exercise their civic responsibility in the forthcoming 2023 general elections,” she said.
Earlier, the Secretary General of SCSN, Dr Nafi’u Baba-Ahmad, said that the essence of the seminar was to remind the people of their civic responsibilities as Nigerians, to register for their voter’s cards.
“Those that have registered before but for some reasons lose their registration, or those who did not due to age, but have now fulfilled the age requirements, should register.
“They are in millions,” he said.
Baba-Ahmad noted that the opportunity opened by INEC to continue the CVR prompted the electoral body to remind religious groups, traditional leaders and other stakeholders of the need to participate in the registration with their followers.
“We are also drawing their attention to the fact that it is not enough to register and acquire the voter’s card, but to use it to vote during elections.
“Unless we use it, it’s of no use.
“Whether we like it or not, we happen to be in a situation where the only way through which our leaders, either good or bad, emerge is through elections.
“Therefore, the democratic process, being a continuous process of voting, is a game of numbers,” Baba-Ahmad said.
He urged citizens to do away with sentiments, but should register to acquire and use their voters’ cards to elect credible candidates in every elective position. (NAN)
