Extend the Voter Registration Exercise, Yahya Urges INEC. By Ladidi Al-Hassan
Extend the Voter Registration Exercise, Yahya Urges INEC.
The Chairmanship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the forthcoming Gwagwalada Area Council election, Hon. Usman Yahya, has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the ongoing voter registration exercise across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Yahya, who made the appeal in Gwagwalada during a visit by a delegation of the Yoruba Community, Abuja, on a sensitization tour of the six area councils, said many residents who registered online were yet to have their biometric data captured. He warned that failure to address the delay could disenfranchise thousands of eligible voters, especially first-time registrants and new residents who had relocated to the area.
The APC candidate emphasised that the continuous voter registration exercise remains the foundation of credible elections, noting that without full biometric capture, citizens’ efforts to participate in governance would be wasted. Yahya said: “Democracy thrives when every eligible voter is given a fair chance to exercise their civic rights. We must not allow technical or logistical challenges to prevent people from choosing their leaders.”
The Yoruba Community, Abuja, is the umbrella body for all Yoruba socio-cultural groups and associations in the FCT. The organisation is led by its President, QS Dauda Murana, and plays a key role in promoting unity, civic engagement, and political awareness among Yoruba residents in the territory.
Speaking during the visit, the spokesperson of the delegation, Ogefila Bayo Adewale, said the sensitization was aimed at ensuring that all eligible voters obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). He added that the tour was sponsored by the Mandate Secretary for Women Affairs in the FCT Administration (FCTA), Hon. Dr. Adedayo Benjamin Laniyi, whose initiative, he said, had boosted grassroots mobilisation and civic participation.
The Yoruba spokesperson said their visit to the INEC office in Gwagwalada showed an unprecedented turnout of residents eager to register and collect their PVCs. He commended the enthusiasm of the people and described the participation as a sign of growing political awareness among FCT residents.
Also speaking, the Youth Leader of the Yoruba Community, Prince Abdulmajeed Adepoju Adeyeye, praised Hon. Olayemi Ismail, a councillorship aspirant for Kutunku Ward in Gwagwalada Area Council, for his tireless efforts in mobilising thousands of Yoruba residents across the council to participate actively in the ongoing voter registration exercise.
In his remarks, Hon. Yahya praised Dr. Benjamin Laniyi for her contributions to women empowerment and inclusive governance, describing her as “a leader redefining political participation at the grassroots.”
He reiterated his call on INEC to extend the voter registration period to enable those who registered online to complete their biometric capture and for newly eligible voters to be accommodated before the exercise closes.
The Legal Adviser of the Yoruba Community, Barr. Femi Bankole, delivered the vote of thanks, while Hajia Sherifat Toyin Lawal offered prayers for peace and progress in Gwagwalada, the FCT, and Nigeria.
