By Oghenefejiro Emado
The Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has expressed concern over the low turnout recorded during the first phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the state.
Represented by his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, the Governor urged stakeholders to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the second phase commencing in January 2026.
The Governor 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.
He stressed that voter registration remains the gateway to democratic participation and the foundation of a credible and inclusive electoral process.
Governor Oborevwori called on 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 particularly appealed to youths and first-time voters to seize the opportunity to register, describing them as the future of democracy.
The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities.
He expressed optimism that the second phase of the exercise would record a significant improvement over the first.
The Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sir Etekamba Udoh Umoren, outlined the timeline of the first phase of the CVR, which commenced with online pre-registration in August 2025, followed by physical registration across local government offices and the display of the voters register for claims and objections.
He 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.
The REC announced that the second phase of the CVR began on January 5, 2026, stressing that voter registration is a civic duty and a cornerstone of democracy, not merely an administrative exercise.
He cautioned against registration offences such as multiple registrations and providing false information, noting the legal penalties attached, while assuring of INEC’s commitment to neutrality, transparency, and peaceful conduct of the exercise.
The sensitisation programme featured a road walk show led by the Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, and was attended by key stakeholders, including traditional rulers, market women, civil society organisations, community leaders, and the media. The programme aimed to mobilise citizens to participate in the CVR exercise and to emphasize the importance of voter registration in democratic participation.
