The member representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. (Rev.) Francis Ejiroghene Waive, has expressed concern over the low turnout recorded so far in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise being conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a statement made available to the press, Waive noted that INEC is currently registering eligible Nigerians, particularly those who have attained the age of 18 since the last general election, as well as citizens who need to transfer their voter registration or replace lost Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). However, he described the number of registered voters within the Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency as negligible and worrisome.
The lawmaker called on his constituents to take the exercise seriously, stressing that voting remains both a civic right and a civic responsibility. According to him, while citizens may not have a choice in the country of their birth, they have a moral and civic obligation to contribute to national development, adding that voter registration is the first step towards meaningful participation in governance.
Waive disclosed that efforts have been intensified to boost awareness and participation across the constituency. He said town criers have been mobilised to reach grassroots communities, while INEC has been urged to extend registration activities to rural areas. He also noted that social media platforms and civil society groups are being engaged to sensitise residents in urban centres.
The federal lawmaker further reminded constituents who have changed their place of residence or misplaced their voter cards that they are eligible to be attended to during the ongoing exercise.
He urged all eligible voters to visit the nearest INEC office promptly, warning that there may be no extension of the registration period.
Waive reiterated his commitment to ensuring broad political participation in the constituency, describing active voter registration as essential to strengthening democracy and good governance.
