Jane Salihu hi
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Taraba State, Dr. Sa’ad Umar Idris, has embarked on a strategic advocacy tour to galvanise support from security agencies, paramilitary organisations and key stakeholders for the ongoing third phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
The two-day courtesy visits, which took the REC to several government institutions in Jalingo, were aimed at deepening collaboration with stakeholders whose roles are critical to the success of elections in the state.
The engagements also provided an opportunity to formally notify the agencies of the resumption of Phase III of the CVR, which began on May 11 and will run until July 10, 2026.
During the visits, Dr. Idris urged the agencies to deploy their various communication platforms to sensitise members of the public on the importance of registering to vote and collecting their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of future elections.
He emphasised that broad-based voter registration and public participation remain essential to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy and ensuring that eligible citizens are able to exercise their constitutional right to vote.
On the first day of the tour, the REC visited the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC), the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the National Orientation Agency (NOA), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Speaking at the various offices, Dr. Idris underscored the importance of security agencies as members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), which plays a central role in coordinating security arrangements before, during and after elections.
At the NOA and NYSC, he sought stronger collaboration in the areas of voter education, civic enlightenment and mobilisation of corps members, who traditionally constitute the bulk of INEC’s ad hoc workforce during elections.
The second day of the advocacy visits saw the REC engage the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Federal Fire Service, the 6 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Jalingo, and the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Across all the institutions visited, Dr. Idris reiterated the need for continued inter-agency cooperation to ensure a peaceful and credible electoral process in Taraba State.
The advocacy tour reflects the proactive leadership of the Taraba REC in laying the groundwork for a successful electoral cycle, while reinforcing stakeholder confidence in INEC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections
