The Kaduna State Government has expressed concern over the low turnout of citizens in the ongoing voter registration exercise and has called on stakeholders to intensify mobilisation efforts.
Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, disclosed this on Thursday in Kaduna, stressing that Governor Uba Sani had directed pragmatic steps to boost participation in the exercise.
Maiyaki raised the concern at a stakeholders’ meeting convened to review challenges facing the exercise and chart strategies for improved turnout.
He revealed that preliminary reports from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) indicated that Kaduna State and the North-West region were lagging behind in registration figures.
“The government is deeply concerned about ensuring stronger citizen engagement in this exercise. This is not about partisanship; it is about encouraging all segments of society.”
Youths, women, the elderly, and every gender group—to participate actively in the democratic process,” he said.
The commissioner noted that the development had already drawn the attention of the Federal Government. He explained that the meeting was deliberately expanded to include local government chairmen, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and the media because of their strategic roles in mobilising citizens.
Maiyaki commended some council chairmen who have already launched sensitisation campaigns in their localities. He explained that the engagement was structured in two phases.
An opening session with the media to highlight objectives and build momentum and a technical session with council chairmen to harmonise grassroots mobilisation strategies.
He added that the meeting provided a platform for sharing experiences and coordinated planning to achieve greater impact.
