Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has urged residents of the South-East to take voter registration seriously as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather pace.
El-Rufai, a leader in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition, made the appeal during a visit to a church in Imo State. In a viral video sighted on Saturday, he reminded citizens that democracy thrives on active participation through the ballot.
“The governance of our country is democratic. We elect our leaders; we don’t select or appoint them. That’s why voting is important. Registering to vote is a civic duty, not just a political choice. It is a responsibility every citizen must take seriously,” he said.
The former governor expressed concern over low voter registration figures in the region, citing data from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showing the South-East lagging behind other zones.
He specifically appealed to women in the region to mobilise young people, especially those who will turn 18 before the next elections.
“I want to appeal to our mothers, sisters, and daughters here to please take this seriously. Encourage our children who are 16 years and above — those who will be 18 in the next two years and ready to vote — to go out and register,” El-Rufai said.
INEC commenced Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) on August 18, 2025, with physical registration beginning on August 25 across 811 centres nationwide. The exercise covers new voters aged 18 and above, transfers, replacement of lost or damaged cards, and collection of PVCs.
According to INEC’s update on September 4, a total of 2,532,062 Nigerians had pre-registered online since the start of the exercise, but only 72,274 had completed the process in person. The South-West leads with 1,390,714 online registrants, followed by North-Central and the FCT with 439,208, and the North-West with 361,018. The South-East recorded the lowest with 36,606.
However, in terms of physical completion, the North-West ranked highest with 24,238 registrants, while the South-East remained at the bottom with just 1,473.
INEC clarified that online pre-registration alone does not confer eligibility to vote unless completed in person, stressing the need for registrants to finalise the process at designated centres.
