Traditional Leaders, Group Mobilise FCT Residents For Voter Registration

Traditional leaders in Garki community of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and a grassroots mobilisation group, have intensified efforts to encourage residents to participate in the ongoing continuous voter registration (CVR) ahead of future elections.

The secretary of the Garki Traditional Council, Dr Lazarus Nuhu Nyaholo, who represented the paramount traditional ruler and chief of Garki Chiefdom in Abuja, His Royal Highness, Sa’Peyi  Usman Nga Kup, said the exercise was aimed at ensuring eligible residents who were yet to obtain voter cards had easier access to registration.

During the exercise in Garki Village, Abuja, Nyaholo said many residents, particularly in communities, often faced challenges accessing registration centres.

“The democratic process is the business of every citizen. It is a right every citizen should exercise, but some people may not have access or the opportunity to register during earlier exercises,” he said.

He said traditional leaders had engaged district and village heads to create awareness and encourage residents to participate in the exercise.

According to him, while voter apathy is often cited in the FCT, migration patterns during elections contribute to lower turnout figures as many non-indigenes travel to their states of origin to vote.

He said community leaders were encouraging residents to obtain voter cards and participate in elections, stressing that citizens have greater moral standing to demand accountability when they participate in the democratic process.

Nyaholo also raised concerns over what he described as the marginalisation of indigenous residents of the FCT, citing representation issues at the national level.

He argued that the territory requires stronger representation structures to address concerns affecting residents.

On whether the mobilisation exercise was politically motivated, Nyaholo said community leaders were focused on encouraging participation rather than directing residents on whom to support.

“We mobilise people to exercise their franchise, not to vote for any particular person,” he said.

Also speaking, a representative of The Game Changer Group (TGCG), Temidayo Kingheart, said the organisation partnered with communities and electoral officials to bring voter registration closer to residents.

Kingheart described the group as a grassroots mobilisation platform supporting democratic participation through voter education and access.

“One of the reasons some people do not register is inconvenience. We believe that if registration is brought closer to communities and business areas, more people will participate,” he said.

He said the group engaged community leaders and worked with relevant stakeholders to identify accessible locations for registration activities.

According to him, the group plans to extend similar mobilisation efforts to other communities in the FCT, including Guzape, during the registration period.

Kingheart said the organisation hopes to facilitate the registration of between 20,000 and 30,000 additional voters across communities where it operates.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is currently conducting Continuous Voter Registration across designated centres nationwide as part of preparations for future elections.