The Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KADSIECOM) has urged residents to participate in the ongoing continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise being conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

KADSIECOM’s commissioner for public affairs and information, Joseph Akpoko, made the call at a stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting in Kafanchan.

Mr Akpoko stated that voter registration was a constitutional responsibility of every citizen, which enables them to choose their leaders.

He particularly implored women and youth to embrace the exercise with patriotism and seriousness.

According to him, the CVR covers fresh registration, transfer of voting locations, updating of details, and replacement of lost or damaged voter cards.

He said Kaduna State had the third highest number of registered voters in the country, emphasising that sustained registration was essential to maintaining this position.

“Currently, Kaduna State has four million-plus registered voters, behind only Lagos and Kano states, which have seven million and five million registered voters, respectively.

“As another round of voter registration has come around, we want to ensure that Kaduna State improves on the current number in the register,” he added.

The meeting was attended by community and religious leaders, civil society organisations, and women and youth groups, who all pledged to use their platforms for mass mobilisation.

They, however, appealed to INEC to bring the registration centres closer to rural and hard-to-reach areas to ease the process for the people.

INEC resumed the nationwide CVR exercise on January 6, signalling the start of the second phase.

(NAN)