By Austine Agbo Emmanuel, Kaduna
Kaduna State Government has raised concern over the poor participation of residents in the ongoing voter registration exercise and has tasked traditional rulers, local government chairmen, religious leaders, and the media to step up mobilisation.
The Commissioner for Information, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, disclosed this while addressing a stakeholders’ meeting convened to review challenges and strengthen strategies aimed at improving citizens’ response.
Maiyaki explained that Governor Uba Sani, committed to inclusive governance, had directed government agencies and community leaders to adopt practical measures that would guarantee wider participation.
According to him, early figures released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) show that both Kaduna State and the Northwest are recording low numbers, a situation that has already attracted the attention of the Federal Government.
He said the meeting deliberately included council chairmen, traditional and religious leaders, and the media because of their vital role in grassroots mobilisation.
“This is not a partisan matter; it is about encouraging every eligible voter—youths, women, men, and the elderly—to take part in shaping the democratic process,” the commissioner stated.
Maiyaki also commended local government leaders who had initiated awareness campaigns in their areas, noting that the meeting provided a platform to share ideas and harmonise approaches for greater impact.
He outlined that the engagement was structured in phases, beginning with media interaction to raise awareness, followed by a technical session with council chairmen to fine-tune strategies for grassroots mobilisation.
Speaking after the meeting, the Vice Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Kaduna, Hon. Dauda Madaki, likened the exercise to a World Cup tournament, noting that a healthy competition would be introduced among council areas, with recognition for the best-performing LGA at the end of the registration period.
He further assured that ALGON, in collaboration with the Ministries of Information and Youth, is committed to ensuring the success of the exercise, adding that voter registration is not only crucial for elections but also for access to government programmes that rely on accurate population data.
