A presidential aspirant of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Yakubu Kingsley, has urged eligible Nigerians to register for the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise before the July 26 deadline, warning that failure to do so could prevent millions from voting in the 2027 general elections.
Kingsley made the appeal in a communiqué issued after an emergency meeting of the leadership of the YMK Nigeria Project Movement, expressing concern over the low turnout recorded despite INEC’s decision to extend the registration exercise.
The Independent National Electoral Commission recently extended the Continuous Voter Registration exercise by two weeks, giving eligible Nigerians until July 26 to register and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards.
Commending the electoral commission for the extension, Kingsley said many Nigerians had yet to take advantage of the opportunity.
He warned that continued voter apathy could deny millions of qualified citizens their constitutional right to participate in choosing the country’s next leaders.
According to him, voter registration is the first step towards meaningful democratic participation.
“Every eligible Nigerian who truly desires positive change must understand that voting begins with registration,” he said.
He encouraged youths who recently turned 18, women, students, artisans, professionals, farmers, traders and persons with disabilities to visit the nearest INEC registration centres before the exercise closes.
Kingsley described the Permanent Voter Card as the instrument through which citizens peacefully determine the quality of leadership in the country.
He also said Nigeria’s economic and security challenges—including unemployment, inflation, poverty and insecurity—should motivate citizens to participate actively in elections rather than remain politically indifferent.
The PRP chieftain further appealed to political stakeholders to conduct their activities peacefully and avoid inflammatory rhetoric as preparations for the 2027 general elections continue.
He maintained that every eligible Nigerian should register before the deadline to ensure they can exercise their constitutional right to vote.
