From mercy Peter
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Gombe State, Dr. Sa’ad Umar Idris, has reiterated his determination to uphold the Commission’s core values and strengthen democratic processes in the state.
Dr. Idris gave this assurance on Tuesday during the State Stakeholders’ Meeting on the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, held at the Hajiya Amina Inuwa Gombe Women Development Centre.
Speaking at the event, the REC pledged to deliver effective and efficient electoral services that would culminate in free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections in Gombe.
“I am here to serve the good people of Gombe State, to deliver effective and efficient electoral processes that will culminate in free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections,” he said.
He underscored the indispensable role of stakeholders in electoral processes, stressing that the credibility of elections cannot rest on INEC alone.
“Our duty as a Commission is not only to uphold the sanctity of the ballot box but also to ensure the credibility of all processes leading to the conduct of elections. We cannot do this alone; that’s why we seek the support of stakeholders at all levels,” Dr. Idris added.
The REC expressed concern over the low turnout of registrants recorded so far and urged stakeholders to mobilize eligible citizens within their constituencies to seize the opportunity of the CVR exercise.
He further reminded participants that the exercise also covered transfers of registration and replacement of lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
Dr. Idris revealed that more than 60,000 PVCs are yet to be collected in Gombe State and appealed to their rightful owners to claim them without delay.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Emir of Gombe and Chairman, Gombe State Council of Emirs and Chiefs, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr.) Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III, the Dan Lawan Gombe, Alhaji (Dr.) Sani Jauro, pledged the full cooperation of traditional institutions across the state.
He assured that traditional rulers in all 11 local government areas would collaborate closely with Electoral Officers to ensure the success of the CVR.
Similarly, the Secretary to the State Government, represented by the Chairman of the Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission (GOSIEC), Alhaji Abdu Garba Talasse, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting INEC in mobilizing registrants.
He, however, advocated for the decentralization of the CVR exercise to Registration Areas and Polling Units to ease the challenges posed by long distances and difficult terrains faced by some communities.
The meeting concluded with an interactive session where stakeholders sought clarifications, raised concerns, and presented practical suggestions on how to enhance participation and improve the CVR process in Gombe State.
