The tempo of the ongoing Continuous Voters’ Registration (CVR) exercise in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State rose sharply on Monday following the visit of Hon. Arome Alfa, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo on Local Government Administration, to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Abejukolo, the council headquarters.
Hon. Alfa, who arrived the centre in the company of the Secretary to the Local Government, Hon. Joseph Oyibo, some elected councillors, supervisors and other grassroots stakeholders, was greeted by a large crowd of residents eager to take part in the exercise.
The governor’s aide wasted no time in addressing INEC officials and prospective registrants. He commended the impressive turnout and assured that the state government was committed to ensuring no eligible citizen was left out of the process.
“I am here strictly on the directive of His Excellency that every appointee must return home to mobilise his people. I am encouraged by the zeal of our people and the dedication of INEC staff despite the few challenges. Be rest assured that we will give you every necessary support to make this exercise smooth,” Hon. Alfa declared, drawing applause from the crowd.
Moments later, the SSA, accompanied by members of the CVR committee for Abejukolo Ward 1, moved into the town, stopping at junctions, markets and motor parks to sensitise residents. His message was simple but consistent: “Register, collect your PVC and join hands with Governor Ododo, a humble and kind-hearted leader, to build Omala into a model of development.”
Market women, commercial motorcyclists and youths responded enthusiastically, with many abandoning their stalls and errands to troop to the INEC office.
Mrs. Damaris Ochada, a food vendor near the Abejukolo roundabout, told the press that the visit gave her the push to register. “I have been postponing it since last week, but when I saw the crowd following Hon. Alfa, I told myself, today I must do it. I want my vote to count,” she said.
For Musa Ibrahim, a commercial motorcyclist, the governor’s aide’s words struck a chord. “He said we should not wait until the last week when the crowd will be too much. That advice makes sense. I parked my bike and came straight here. This is my first time registering,” he noted.
Many residents also tied their new enthusiasm for voter registration to ongoing projects in the area, especially the Abejukolo Township Road currently under construction. According to them, the visible impact of Governor Ododo’s administration is enough motivation to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ready, not just for 2027, but to ensure the governor is returned for a second term.
“This road project alone has changed our town. We have never seen this kind of thing in years. It is only fair that we reciprocate this gesture by giving him our support when the time comes,” said Sunday Onuh, a youth in the community.
INEC officials at the centre, while briefing Hon. Alfa on some technical hitches, acknowledged the sudden surge in registrants. The SSA, in turn, promised to remain accessible to resolve any obstacles that might arise in the course of the exercise.
By evening, the CVR centre in Abejukolo had witnessed one of its busiest days since the commencement of the exercise, with residents attributing the development to the presence and words of encouragement from the governor’s aide.
