By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory has called on Nigerians to participate actively in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Chairman of Northern CAN, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, in a statement issued in Kaduna, said voter registration is the first step for citizens who want their voices to count in governance. He urged Nigerians to overcome doubts about the value of their votes, stressing that apathy only empowers politicians who benefit from low turnout.
“Our votes count. If votes were useless, no one would attempt to buy them. Nigerians should understand that the real power lies in the ballot and not in money shared during elections,” Rev. Hayab said.
He appealed to religious leaders of all faiths to intensify sensitisation within congregations and communities, describing faith-based platforms as effective channels for mass mobilisation.
The CAN chairman also called on INEC to bring registration centres closer to the people, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas, to ease access for prospective voters.
INEC announced that its online pre-registration portal opened on August 18, while physical registration began on August 25 and will continue until August 30, 2026. The exercise is taking place at 811 state and local government offices nationwide.
According to the commission, more than 1.3 million Nigerians completed their online pre-registration within the first week, with young people aged 18 to 34 making up the majority. It reminded the public that the CVR covers fresh registration, transfer of voting locations, and replacement of lost or damaged voter cards, while cautioning against multiple registrations.
Rev. Hayab further urged citizens, especially youths and women, to approach the exercise with patriotism.
“Selling your vote is selling your conscience and your tomorrow. We must reject inducements and stand firm for a Nigeria built on justice, peace, and progress,” he said.
Northern CAN assured that it would continue to collaborate with churches, civil society groups, and community leaders to ensure that no eligible Nigerian is left out of the registration process.
