A member of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. (Rev.) Francis Ejiroghene Waive, has urged residents of Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency to actively participate in the ongoing voter registration exercise being conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Waive made the call on Sunday via his verified Facebook page, expressing concern over what he described as the low turnout of newly registered voters across the constituency.
According to the lawmaker, INEC is currently registering eligible Nigerians, particularly those who have attained the age of 18 since the last general election, as well as residents who need to transfer their registration or replace lost Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). He noted, however, that participation levels in the constituency remain worrisome.
He stressed that voting is a fundamental civic right and that voter registration is a key civic responsibility, urging constituents not to take the exercise lightly. Waive added that while citizens do not choose the country of their birth, they have a duty to contribute to its development, with voter registration serving as the foundation of meaningful civic engagement.
The federal lawmaker disclosed that efforts were being intensified to raise awareness, including the deployment of town criers to grassroots communities, engagement with civil society organisations, and the use of social media platforms to reach urban residents. He also revealed that his office had appealed to INEC to extend registration activities to rural areas to ensure broader coverage.
Waive urged all eligible constituents to promptly visit the nearest INEC office to register or update their details, warning that the registration window may not be extended.
Reaffirming his commitment to the constituency, he encouraged residents to seize the opportunity to participate actively in the democratic process by taking part in the ongoing voter registration exercise.