The newly redeployed Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kwara State, Mr Hale Gabriel Longpet, has disclosed plans by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to significantly increase the state’s voter population ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Mr Longpet made this known during a chat with newsmen in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, North Central Nigeria, where he explained that a major part of his mandate is to improve voter participation, both in registration and turnout.

He expressed concern that Kwara, despite its pivotal role in Nigeria’s political history, had only 1,695,927 registered voters as of the last general election, with 1,537,275 collecting their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), amounting to 90.6 per cent collection rate.

“I believe that with the population of Kwara and its strategic relevance, we should have more people registered. My target is to raise the voting population in the state beyond the current figure,” Longpet said.

To this end, INEC is set to kick off the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise on August 18, 2025 for the online registration while the in-person registration will commence on the 25th of this month across all 16 local government area headquarters in the state, in addition to the state office in Ilorin making 17 registration centres in total.

According to Longpet, the CVR will capture eligible Nigerians who recently turned 18, allow voters to transfer registration due to relocation, replace lost PVCs, and correct errors in names or other personal data. He emphasised that only Nigerians aged 18 and above who have not previously registered are eligible for fresh registration.

“The registration is not starting afresh; it is continuous, and that’s why it’s called Continuous Voter Registration. Many young people have become eligible since the last exercise in 2022,” he explained.

INEC, he added, would also make uncollected PVCs available at the registration centres, enabling those who missed out in previous distribution rounds to retrieve their cards.

The REC also revealed that he would embark on a tour of all 16 local governments in Kwara in the coming weeks as part of sensitisation efforts, particularly to reach hard-to-access areas such as riverine communities.

“We are starting at the local government headquarters, but if the Commission deems it necessary later, we may expand to ward levels as we did previously. We understand the terrain and are planning accordingly,” he said.

He stressed that INEC is working in collaboration with stakeholders including the National Orientation Agency (NOA), traditional institutions, civil society organizations, and the media to ensure widespread public enlightenment.

The Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) is also on board to provide security support during the exercise.

Mr Longpet also addressed the issue of voter apathy, stating that many Nigerians still believe their votes don’t count, an assumption he described as false and dangerous to democratic development.

“People think their votes won’t count, but that’s not true. INEC has put in place credible systems like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to ensure only legitimate votes are cast and counted,” he stated.

He acknowledged that voter intimidation and violence in some areas discourage participation but assured that the Commission, with support from security agencies, is working to create safer voting environments.

On the issue of political cross-carpeting, Longpet clarified that INEC does not have the power to declare seats vacant following defections by elected officials.

He explained that it is the responsibility of the legislature, either the Speaker of the House of Assembly or Senate President—to notify INEC of any such developments before action can be taken.

Similarly, he reiterated that the conduct of local government elections lies solely with the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), and INEC’s only contribution is to provide the voter register upon request.

He disclosed that INEC has made submissions to the National Assembly concerning electoral reforms, including the possibility of diaspora voting and early voting for electoral officials.

“These proposals are currently under legislative consideration. We await the outcome,” he noted.

Responding to a question on the viability of electronic voting, Longpet admitted that while desirable, the current infrastructure across Nigeria cannot support it.

“There are areas in Plateau State, for instance, where there is no network coverage at all. Until such gaps are bridged, full electronic voting remains impractical,” he said.

Longpet, who served as REC in Kogi before his redeployment, said his priority is to ensure inclusiveness, transparency, and voter confidence throughout his tenure in Kwara.

“I want to leave Kwara State with a higher and more active voter base than I met. That would be my legacy,” he added.

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has dismissed claims that northern Nigeria is marginalised under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, affirming that northerners hold key positions and are fully represented in the national government.

Speaking to journalists at the State House over the weekend after his meeting with the President on Friday, Governor Sani dismissed the marginalisation narrative as “false” and called on stakeholders to concentrate on collaborative solutions to the region’s developmental challenges.

“You cannot be talking about marginalisation when the Minister of Defence, Minister of State for Defence, the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Chief of Army Staff are all from northern Nigeria. Even the heads of Civil Defence and Immigration are northerners. Agriculture, health—these are also led by northerners. The record speaks for itself”, Sani said.

Acknowledging the region’s socio-economic and security challenges, the governor emphasised that the issues are rooted in history and require a united, collective effort to address.

“The problems of northern Nigeria are deep-rooted. Government alone cannot fix them. We need unity among our leaders, business elites, religious groups, and civil society to drive change,” he stated.

He referenced the recent Arewa House summit held in Kaduna on July 29–30, describing it as “historic and commendable.”

The two-day interactive session held in Kaduna and organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation brought together over 80 top government officials serving under President Tinubu’s leadership

The meeting brought together about 80 government officials and a wide array of stakeholders—from academics and traditional rulers to market women and youth leaders—to deliberate on the region’s future.

“For the first time, such a diverse group met to take a holistic look at our challenges. We agreed, based on data, that no zone in the North is being marginalised”, Sani said.

On education and youth development, Governor Sani cited a 2023 UNICEF report which revealed that 18.5 million children were out of school in Nigeria, with 70 to 80 percent in the North.

“This is not a new problem. In 2019, the numbers were similar. We must change this trajectory with targeted interventions”, he explained.

He called on the North’s wealthy elite to step up and invest in resolving the region’s education and poverty crises.

“The richest man in Africa is from the North. Many of our top business leaders are northerners. We need their support, not just government efforts, to turn things around,” he said.

Governor Sani said he briefed the President on major developmental initiatives mentioning progress in transport infrastructure.

“We are working closely with the federal government on a light rail project to complement our BRT system, which began six months ago,” he said.

In healthcare, the governor revealed that construction has commenced on a cancer treatment centre at the state’s 300-bed Bolami Julio Specialist Hospital, following an agreement reached with President Tinubu during his recent visit to the state.

Providing updates on the Abuja–Kaduna road project, Sani confirmed that the Federal Executive Council has released ₦200 billion for its completion.

“Initially, the plan was to finish the road in 14 months, but with this new momentum, we aim to complete it within eight months,” he said.

Speaking on security concerns, the governor identified the recruitment of 7,000 local vigilantes, who he said have contributed significantly to intelligence gathering.

“Security is not just about military action. It also involves addressing the economic and social root causes of violence,” he stressed.

He concluded by reaffirming President Tinubu’s commitment to peace and development in the Northwest, emphasising that the government is determined to tackle insecurity through a comprehensive strategy that includes socio-economic upliftment.