Feminine voters surpass males as INEC registers 36,638 in Gombe

The Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee has enrolled 36,638 new voters in Gombe State throughout Part I of the Steady Voter Registration train, with girls accounting for almost all of registrants for the primary time within the state’s historical past.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Gombe State, Dr Saad Idris, disclosed this on Thursday at a state stakeholders’ assembly on Part II of the CVR held on the Gombe Worldwide Resort.

Idris mentioned 35,451 registrations have been recorded inside the state, comprising 14,976 males (42 per cent) and 20,475 females (58 per cent), whereas nationwide INEC information confirmed a cumulative complete of 36,638 new voters, together with those that registered outdoors the state.

“Gombe State recorded 35,451 new registrations inside the state, whereas the whole enrolment on the finish of Part I stood at 36,638 based mostly on our nationwide information.

“I’ve been informed that that is the primary time within the historical past of Gombe State that feminine registration is surpassing male registration. We should commend our girls,” he mentioned.

He added that the train additionally recorded 7,613 voter transfers, 9,031 corrections or updates, and 1,383 Everlasting Voter Card collections throughout the native authorities areas.

Regardless of the positive aspects, the REC expressed concern that Gombe’s registration figures remained low in comparison with different northern states.

“Voter registration figures in our state stay low when put next with different states within the North,” he famous, citing Kano, Sokoto, Borno, Zamfara and Yobe as states with larger enrolment figures.

To handle the hole, Idris introduced that INEC had authorized the devolution of voter registration to the Registration Areas by means of a 50-day rotational deployment of INEC Voter Enrolment Units, starting Monday, February 2, 2026.

He defined that underneath the brand new association, every of the 114 Registration Areas within the state can be assigned two INEC personnel with an IVED for 5 days, based mostly on schedules designed by Electoral Officers and authorized by the REC.

“Registration throughout this part is anticipated to be performed strictly on the designated Registration Space centres. Deviations with out authorisation won’t be tolerated,” Idris warned.

He additionally cautioned in opposition to a number of registrations, describing the observe as unlawful and counterproductive.

“Other than the truth that it’s an offence, the act quantities to a waste of time for each a number of registrants and real registrants, who are sometimes discouraged by lengthy queues,” he mentioned.

The REC urged residents who had already registered to not re-register, noting that they might as a substitute apply for the alternative of misplaced or broken PVCs or request transfers the place obligatory.

Calling for collective motion, Idris charged political events, civil society organisations, conventional and spiritual leaders, the media and safety businesses to accentuate mobilisation and help for the train.

“This can be a shared concern and a shared accountability,” he mentioned, including that safety businesses should guarantee a peaceable atmosphere for registration actions.

He reaffirmed INEC’s dedication to credible and inclusive elections, describing the CVR as “a cornerstone of democratic participation.”

Idris urged stakeholders to redouble their efforts throughout Part II to make sure wider participation and improved voter registration figures throughout the state