Voter Registration Turnout Low In Yobe – INEC

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) national resident commissioner in Yobe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, shas decried the low turnout for the second phase of voter registration in the state.

Abdullahi stated this at a press briefing in Damaturu, saying a major shift in strategy for the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise is moving registration units directly to local wards to boost participation.

He said the first phase of the exercise, which ended on December 21, 2025, recorded a preliminary figure of 55,070 new registrants in 17 local government areas in the state.

According to him, the challenges we are facing include seasonal farming, insecurity, and difficult terrain, which led to a “relatively low turnout” in phase 1. The commission has approved a 50-day ward-level rotation of registration devices across the state.”

According to him, to ensure inclusivity and access for all eligible citizens, the commission has approved the devolution of the registration exercise to the ward level within the registration area (RA).

The resident commissioner described that the new ward-level rotation of INEC Voter Enrollment Devices (IVEDs) is scheduled to begin on February 2, 2026, with the final week of the phase conducted at Local Government offices within the state.

He urged them to capitalise on this widened voter registration exercise, which will guarantee their eligibility to choose their leaders during the   2027 general election and beyond.

He also appeals to all stakeholders in the state, including traditional rulers, civil society and the media houses, to mobilise eligible citizens to participate in the second phase of voter registration.