Gombe Targets Grassroots Surge As INEC Takes Voter Registration To Communities
With women now leading new voter sign-ups for the first time in Gombe, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is pushing registration closer to the people to boost participation ahead of future elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Gombe State, Dr Saad Umar Idris, has engaged key stakeholders to review Phase I and roll out Phase II of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), which will see registration decentralised to Registration Areas (RAs) on a rotational basis.
Dr Idris revealed that 36,638 new voters were registered in Phase I, with female registrants outnumbering males, a milestone for the state.
However, he noted that overall figures still lag behind other northern states and urged political parties, civil society groups, religious and traditional leaders, the media and security agencies to intensify mobilisation.
To deepen grassroots access, INEC will deploy Voter Enrolment Devices (IVEDs) across Gombe’s 114 Registration Areas for 50 days, starting 2 February 2026.
The REC warned against multiple registrations, describing the practice as illegal and harmful to the credibility of the process.
He also confirmed that preparatory meetings have been held with INEC staff and electoral officers across the 11 Local Government Areas to fine-tune operations for Phase II, assuring stakeholders of a transparent, inclusive, and credible registration exercise.
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