The Acting Administrative Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Akwa Ibom State, Barrister Vincent Oghene, has called on eligible Nigerians, particularly first-time voters, to take advantage of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), describing voter registration as the bedrock of democratic participation and the first step towards influencing governance.
Speaking during an interview on the ongoing registration exercise, Barrister Oghene acknowledged that while public turnout has not been as encouraging as expected, he would not entirely attribute the situation to voter apathy. According to him, the state already has a large number of registered voters, making the current exercise largely a mop-up for citizens who have just attained the age of 18, those returning from abroad, or persons who missed previous registration exercises.
He stressed that registration remains the foundation upon which every credible democratic process is built, insisting that citizens who fail to register deny themselves the opportunity to participate in determining who governs them.
“Registration is the foundation on which every democracy rests. Without registration, you may be a citizen, but you are not an active citizen. Your registration gives you a voice, and your voter card is what makes you potent.”
Barrister Oghene disclosed that the Commission has intensified voter education and public enlightenment across the three senatorial districts of Akwa Ibom State through road walks, community sensitisation campaigns, radio programmes and strategic partnerships with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), civil society organisations and other stakeholders to encourage wider participation.
He explained that despite the extensive awareness campaigns, the Commission believes a significant proportion of eligible residents had already registered before the 2023 General Election, when the state’s voter register stood at approximately 2.3 million, with nearly 200,000 additional registrations recorded since then.
Barrister Oghene identified unstable network connectivity as the major operational challenge affecting the registration exercise, explaining that although network fluctuations occasionally slow down the process, they have not prevented eligible citizens from being registered.
“The major challenge we have is occasional network fluctuation. It slows down the work but has never stopped people from registering. The issue of network is beyond the Commission and requires improvement in Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure.”
Looking ahead to the 2027 General Election, the Acting Administrative Secretary expressed confidence that measures already put in place would strengthen the electoral process and improve the deployment of technology during elections.
He maintained that INEC remains committed to delivering credible elections but noted that election management is a collective responsibility involving the Commission, ad hoc personnel, security agencies, educational institutions, political parties and the electorate.
Barrister Oghene observed that most polling officials are drawn from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), universities and other public institutions, while INEC plays mainly a supervisory and coordinating role. He therefore commended traditional rulers, community leaders, political stakeholders and other groups that have continued to mobilise eligible citizens for registration.
“The system may not be perfect, but participation is the greatest dividend of democracy. Your voter card is your power, just as the ballot is your bullet. The very first step is to get registered.”
He urged all eligible Nigerians who have attained the age of 18 and those who are yet to register to seize the opportunity provided by the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise, stressing that active participation remains the cornerstone of a vibrant democratic society.
