The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has appealed to Nigerians to take full advantage of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Chairman of Northern CAN, Rev. John Hayab, described voter registration as the foundation of meaningful participation in governance, stressing that those who fail to register deny themselves the opportunity to influence the direction of the country.
He said that doubts about the value of votes must be dispelled, warning that voter apathy only benefits politicians who prefer low turnout.
“Our votes truly matter. If they were useless, there would be no attempt to buy them. Nigerians must realise that power lies in the ballot, not in the money shared at polling units,” Hayab stated.
The cleric urged religious leaders across different faiths to use their platforms to sensitise followers, pointing out that places of worship remain one of the most effective means of mobilising large numbers of people.
Hayab also appealed to INEC to make registration centres more accessible by extending them to rural and remote areas where many citizens face challenges of distance and poor transportation.
INEC had earlier disclosed that the online pre-registration portal opened on August 18, 2025, while physical registration commenced on August 25 and will run until August 30, 2026, in its 811 offices nationwide.
Within the first week, more than 1.3 million citizens had already completed the online process, with youths between 18 and 34 making up the majority of applicants.
According to the Commission, the exercise covers fresh registration, transfer of voting locations, as well as replacement of lost or damaged voter cards, but multiple registrations remain prohibited.
Hayab specifically encouraged young people and women to embrace the process with seriousness and patriotism.
“Selling your vote is selling your future, Nigeria can only move forward if we stand together for justice, peace, and progress,” he cautioned.
He assured that Northern CAN would continue to collaborate with churches, civil society groups, and community leaders to ensure that no eligible voter is excluded from the registration exercise.