By Anne Azuka
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has expressed concern over the low turnout recorded during the first phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the state, calling on stakeholders to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the second phase, which commenced in January 2026.
The governor made the call on Wednesday at a Sensitisation and Advocacy Engagement organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in collaboration with the Delta State Government in Asaba.
Represented by his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyema, Governor Oborevwori described the registration figures from the first phase as far below expectations, noting that the over 76,000 registrants recorded did not reflect Delta State’s population size and level of democratic awareness.
He stressed that voter registration remains the gateway to democratic participation and the foundation of a credible, inclusive and representative electoral process.
The governor urged traditional rulers, political party leaders, religious institutions, civil society organisations, youth and women groups, market associations and the media to take ownership of the CVR campaign by driving awareness directly to grassroots communities.
He particularly appealed to youths and first-time voters to take advantage of the ongoing exercise, describing them as the future of democracy and critical drivers of electoral participation.
Governor Oborevwori reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for INEC to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities and expressed optimism that the second phase of the exercise would record a significant improvement over the first.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu, said the engagement was prompted by declining civic participation and growing voter apathy.
He emphasised that while INEC has the constitutional responsibility of conducting elections, citizens’ participation through voter registration is fundamental to good governance. According to him, citizens who fail to exercise their civic duty of voting lose the moral right to complain about governance outcomes.
He urged stakeholders to mobilise their communities and encourage all eligible residents to register and participate in the democratic process.
In his presentation, the Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sir Etekamba Udoh Umoren, outlined the timeline of the first phase of the CVR, which began with online pre-registration in August 2025, followed by physical registration at local government offices and the display of the voters’ register for claims and objections, in compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.
He explained that the CVR exercise caters for first-time voters, those who missed previous registrations, applicants seeking correction of personal details, replacement of lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and those wishing to transfer their registration.
The REC disclosed that the second phase of the Continuous Voter Registration commenced on January 5, 2026, stressing that voter registration is a civic responsibility and a cornerstone of democracy, not merely an administrative exercise.
He cautioned against registration-related offences such as multiple registrations and providing false information, noting that such acts attract legal penalties. He also assured stakeholders of INEC’s commitment to neutrality, transparency and the peaceful conduct of the exercise.
The sensitisation programme, which featured a road walk, was attended by key stakeholders including the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor; his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Arthur Akpowowo; members of the State House of Assembly; Hon. Francis Waive, representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency; traditional rulers, market women, civil society organisations, community leaders, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), among others.
