CVR: Oborevwori, Aniagwu, Delta Stakeholders Lament Low Turnout, Urge Mobilisation

DELTA State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has expressed concern over the low turnout recorded during the first phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the state, urging stakeholders to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the second phase, which started on January 5.
In the same vein, Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, urged eligible residents to take full advantage of the exercise, describing voter registration and possession of the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) as both a constitutional right and a civic responsibility.
Oborevwori, represented by his Deputy, Monday Onyeme, on Wednesday, January 22, at a sensitisation and advocacy engagement organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in collaboration with the state government and held at Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, described the registration figures from the first phase as far below expectations, noting that the 76,000 registrants recorded did not reflect the population strength and democratic consciousness of the state.
The governor stressed that voter registration remains the gateway to democratic participation and the foundation of a credible and inclusive electoral process, charging traditional rulers, political party leaders, religious bodies, civil society organisations, youth and women groups, market associations and the media to take ownership of the CVR campaign by driving awareness directly to communities.
He specifically charged youths and first-time voters, who he described as the future of democracy, to seize the opportunity to register, and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for INEC to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities.
Oborevwori expressed optimism that the second phase of the exercise would record a significant improvement over the first.
Earlier, Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG), Kingsley Emu, said the engagement was necessitated by declining civic participation and voter apathy.
Emu stressed that while INEC’s primary responsibility is to conduct elections, citizen participation through voter registration is fundamental to good governance; hence citizens who fail to exercise their civic responsibility of voting forfeit the moral right to complain about governance outcomes.
Aniagwu, speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the engagement, said every Nigerian who has attained the age of 18 is legally qualified to register and vote, and in some cases, to be voted for, depending on the elective office.
He stressed that voter registration is fundamental to democratic participation, noting that citizens who fail to vote effectively forfeit the moral right to complain about poor leadership and governance outcomes.
The commissioner, explained that the exercise was aimed at reaching new registrants, particularly young Nigerians who were underage during the last general election, as well as those who were unable to register previously due to various challenges.
In his presentation, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Etekamba Udoh Umoren, explained that the CVR accommodates first-time voters, those who missed earlier registrations, applicants seeking correction of personal details, replacement of lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and those wishing to transfer their registration.
Umoren disclosed that the second phase commenced on January 5, 2026, stressing that voter registration is a civic duty and cornerstone of democracy, not merely an administrative exercise.
He also cautioned against registration offences, such as multiple registrations and providing false information, highlighting legal penalties attached, assuring of INEC’s commitment to neutrality, transparency, and peaceful conduct of the exercise.
The programme was attended by stakeholders, including Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor; his Deputy, Arthur Akpowowo; member representing Ughelli North/Ughelli South/ Udu Federal Constituency, Francis Waive; members of the State Assembly; State Executive Council; traditional rulers; market women; civil society organisations; community leaders; the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC); ALGON; and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), among others.