The Independent National Electoral Commission has registered 36,638 new voters in Gombe State during the first phase of its Continuous Voter Registration exercise, marking the first time in the state’s history that women have outnumbered men among new registrants.
Dr Saad Idris, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Gombe State, announced the figures on Thursday at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Gombe International Hotel to prepare for Phase II of the exercise.
Of the 35,451 registrations completed within the state, 20,475 (58 per cent) were women and 14,976 (42 per cent) were men. National INEC records, which include registrations by Gombe indigenes outside the state, brought the total to 36,638.
Idris described the female majority as a significant milestone. “I have been told that this is the first time in the history of Gombe State that female registration is surpassing male registration. We must commend our women,” he told the gathering of political parties, civil society groups, traditional and religious leaders, media, and security agencies.
The first phase also recorded 7,613 voter transfers, 9,031 requests for corrections or updates to voter details, and 1,383 collections of Permanent Voter Cards across the state’s local government areas.
Despite the progress, Idris noted that Gombe’s overall registration numbers remain lower than those of several other northern states, including Kano, Sokoto, Borno, Zamfara, and Yobe.
To close the gap, INEC has approved a decentralised approach for Phase II, which begins on Monday, February 2, 2026. Registration will move from local government headquarters to the 114 Registration Areas (wards) across the state through a 50-day rotational schedule.
Each Registration Area will receive two INEC officials equipped with INEC Voter Enrolment Devices (IVED) for five days, following timetables drawn up by Electoral Officers and approved by the REC.
“Registration during this phase is expected to be conducted strictly at the designated Registration Area centres. Deviations without authorisation will not be tolerated,” Idris warned.
He stressed that multiple registration is an offence that wastes time and discourages genuine applicants through long queues. Those already registered, he added, should only apply for PVC replacements if theirs are lost or damaged, or request transfers if they have relocated.
The Continuous Voter Registration, introduced by INEC ahead of the 2011 general elections and now a permanent feature of the electoral process, allows eligible citizens to register or update their details outside major pre-election cycles. It has become a critical tool for expanding the voter roll and enhancing inclusion, particularly in states where logistical challenges and low awareness have historically limited participation.
In Gombe, as in much of northern Nigeria, voter turnout and registration have often lagged behind southern states, influenced by factors ranging from security concerns to cultural attitudes toward civic engagement. The shift toward greater female participation reflects broader national efforts by INEC and civil society to encourage women’s involvement in the democratic process, building on campaigns that gained momentum after the 2019 and 2023 elections.
Idris called for concerted mobilisation by all stakeholders to boost turnout in the coming phase. “This is a shared concern and a shared responsibility,” he said, urging political parties, community leaders, the media, and security agencies to create an enabling environment for the exercise.
He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to credible, inclusive elections, describing the CVR as “a cornerstone of democratic participation” and appealing to stakeholders to intensify efforts to improve Gombe’s registration figures in the weeks ahead.
