On Wednesday, August 27, 2025, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory called on Nigerians to actively participate in the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, as reported by Vanguard and The Sun. Northern CAN Chairman Rev. John Joseph Hayab emphasized that voter registration is the first step for citizens to influence governance, urging against apathy and vote-selling, which he said empowers self-serving politicians. “Our votes count. If votes were useless, no one would attempt to buy them,” Hayab stated (Leadership.ng).
He called on religious leaders to mobilize congregations and urged INEC to establish more registration centers in rural areas to improve access. INEC reported that the CVR, which began online on August 18, 2025, and physically on August 25, 2025, will continue until August 30, 2026, across 811 offices, with 1.3 million Nigerians, mostly youths aged 18–34, completing online pre-registration in the first week (ThisDay). The exercise covers fresh registrations, vote transfers, and card replacements, with warnings against illegal multiple registrations. Hayab stressed youth and women’s participation, saying, “Selling your vote is selling your conscience and your tomorrow” (Daily Post). X posts from @CAN_Nigeria (August 27, 2025) echoed the call, while @Naija_Activist noted 48% voter turnout in 2023, urging greater engagement (Afrobarometer, 2025).
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