By Sunday Apah
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has voiced profound dissatisfaction with the notably poor public turnout during the inaugural phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the state, compelling stakeholders to escalate community-level mobilization before the subsequent phase begins in January 2026.
The Governor issued this directive on Wednesday during a sensitization forum convened by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in partnership with the Delta State Government at Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, Oborevwori lamented that the initial registration statistics—approximately 76,000 individuals—fell drastically short of projections and failed to represent the demographic capacity and democratic engagement expected of the state.
He emphasized that voter enrollment constitutes the essential pathway to electoral involvement and underpins any legitimate and comprehensive democratic process.
Governor Oborevwori implored traditional leaders, political figures, faith-based institutions, civil society advocates, youth and women’s associations, trade groups, and media outlets to champion the CVR initiative by propagating awareness at the community level. He specifically urged young and first-time voters to enroll without delay, identifying them as the cornerstone of the democratic future.
The Governor reiterated his government’s dedication to fostering a conducive atmosphere for INEC to execute its constitutional duties unimpeded, expressing confidence that the next registration cycle would yield substantially improved results.
In introductory remarks, the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu, stated that the forum was prompted by dwindling civic engagement and pervasive voter indifference. He asserted that although INEC is tasked with conducting elections, public involvement through voter registration is indispensable to sound governance. Emu further contended that citizens who neglect their civic obligation to vote relinquish the ethical standing to critique governmental performance.
During his address, the Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sir Etekamba Udoh Umoren, detailed the schedule of the first CVR phase, which began with online pre-registration in August 2025, proceeded with in-person registration at local government offices, and concluded with the public display of the voter register for verification—all in compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.
Umoren clarified that the CVR caters to new voters, individuals who previously missed registration windows, applicants amending personal information, those replacing lost or defaced Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and registrants seeking to transfer their voting location.
The REC confirmed that the second CVR phase launched on January 5, 2026, underscoring that voter registration is not a mere bureaucratic task but a civic imperative and a pillar of democratic practice. He also warned against electoral offenses such as duplicate registration and submission of fraudulent details, highlighting accompanying legal sanctions, while affirming INEC’s pledge to impartiality, openness, and the peaceful administration of the process.
The event, which included an awareness roadwalk spearheaded by Deputy Governor Sir Monday Onyeme, drew participation from prominent stakeholders such as the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor; his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Arthur Akpowowo; Hon. Francis Waive, representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South, and Udu Federal Constituency; state legislators; members of the State Executive Council; traditional rulers; market leaders; civil society representatives; community elders; the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC); the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON); and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), among others.
