Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani
Kaduna State Government has raised concern over the low turnout in the ongoing voter registration exercise, with Governor Uba Sani directing local government chairmen, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and the media to step up mobilization of eligible voters.
Commissioner for Information, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting on Thursday, convened to review challenges in the registration process and design strategies for improved participation.
Maiyaki said preliminary reports from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) show that Kaduna and other Northwest states are trailing in registration figures, a development that has already attracted the attention of the Federal Government.
He explained that the meeting was deliberately broadened to include grassroots and opinion leaders because of their strategic influence in mobilizing diverse segments of society.
“This is not about partisanship; it is about encouraging youth, women, the elderly, and all groups to participate actively in the democratic process,” he said.
The commissioner commended council chairmen who had already launched sensitization drives in their localities, noting that the meeting allowed for experience sharing and harmonized planning.
Vice Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Kaduna State chapter, Hon. Dauda Madaki, likened the exercise to a World Cup tournament, saying there would be healthy competition among LGAs to achieve the highest turnout.
He pledged ALGON’s commitment to work closely with the Ministries of Information and Youth to ensure success, while also appealing to INEC to address logistical challenges.
Madaki noted that high-population LGAs like Chikun, Igabi, Zangon Kataf, and Sabon Gari were underserved with only two registration machines each, calling for at least 10 per LGA in such areas.
“Our people are ready and willing to register; all they need is the opportunity,” he said, while commending local council chairmen for making the best use of limited resources and urging them to sustain grassroots mobilization.
