The Independent National Electoral Commission has enrolled 36,638 new voters in Gombe State during Phase I of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, with women accounting for the majority of registrants for the first time in the state’s history.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Gombe State, Dr Saad Idris, disclosed this on Thursday at a state stakeholders’ meeting on Phase II of the CVR held at the Gombe International Hotel.

Idris said 35,451 registrations were recorded within the state, comprising 14,976 males (42 per cent) and 20,475 females (58 per cent), while national INEC records showed a cumulative total of 36,638 new voters, including those who registered outside the state.

“Gombe State recorded 35,451 new registrations within the state, while the total enrolment at the end of Phase I stood at 36,638 based on our national records.

“I have been told that this is the first time in the history of Gombe State that female registration is surpassing male registration. We must commend our women,” he said.

He added that the exercise also recorded 7,613 voter transfers, 9,031 corrections or updates, and 1,383 Permanent Voter Card collections across the local government areas.

Despite the gains, the REC expressed concern that Gombe’s registration figures remained low compared to other northern states.

“Voter registration figures in our state remain low when compared with other states in the North,” he noted, citing Kano, Sokoto, Borno, Zamfara and Yobe as states with higher enrolment figures.

To address the gap, Idris announced that INEC had approved the devolution of voter registration to the Registration Areas through a 50-day rotational deployment of INEC Voter Enrolment Devices, beginning Monday, February 2, 2026.

He explained that under the new arrangement, each of the 114 Registration Areas in the state would be assigned two INEC personnel with an IVED for five days, based on schedules designed by Electoral Officers and approved by the REC.

“Registration during this phase is expected to be conducted strictly at the designated Registration Area centres. Deviations without authorisation will not be tolerated,” Idris warned.

He also cautioned against multiple registrations, describing the practice as illegal and counterproductive.

“Aside from the fact that it is an offence, the act amounts to a waste of time for both multiple registrants and genuine registrants, who are often discouraged

by long queues,” he said.

The REC urged residents who had already registered not to re-register, noting that they could instead apply for the replacement of lost or damaged PVCs or request transfers where necessary.

Calling for collective action, Idris charged political parties, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, the media and security agencies to intensify mobilisation and support for the exercise.

“This is a shared concern and a shared responsibility,” he said, adding that security agencies must ensure a peaceful environment for registration activities.

He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to credible and inclusive elections, describing the CVR as “a cornerstone of democratic participation.”

Idris urged stakeholders to redouble their efforts during Phase II to ensure wider participation and improved voter registration figures across the state. (The PUNCH)

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