Northern CAN urges Nigerians to register for PVCs

By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory has called on Nigerians to take active part in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise being conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Chairman of Northern CAN, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, said voter registration remains the first step for citizens determined to make their voices heard in governance.

He urged Nigerians to discard doubts about the relevance of their votes, stressing that apathy only emboldens politicians who benefit from low turnout.

“Our votes count. If votes were useless, no one would attempt to buy them. Nigerians should understand that the real power lies in the ballot and not in money shared during elections,” Rev. Hayab said.

The cleric appealed to religious leaders of all faiths to intensify sensitisation within congregations and communities, describing faith-based platforms as effective channels for mass mobilisation.

He also called on INEC to bring registration centres closer to people, especially those in rural and hard-to-reach areas, to ease the process for prospective voters.

According to INEC, the online pre-registration portal opened on August 18, 2025, while physical registration commenced on August 25, 2025. The exercise is scheduled to continue until August 30, 2026, across the Commission’s 811 state and local government offices nationwide.

The electoral umpire disclosed that more than 1.3 million Nigerians completed their online pre-registration in the first week of the exercise, with young people between ages 18 and 34 making up the majority.

INEC also reminded the public that the CVR accommodates fresh registration, transfer of voting locations, and replacement of lost or damaged voter cards, while warning that multiple registrations remain illegal.

Rev. Hayab particularly urged youths and women to embrace the exercise with seriousness and patriotism.

“Selling your vote is selling your conscience and your tomorrow. We must reject inducements and stand firm for a Nigeria built on justice, peace, and progress,” he said.

Northern CAN assured that it would continue working with churches, civil society groups, and community leaders to ensure that no eligible Nigerian is left out in the registration process.

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