The Independent National Electoral Commission has recorded 36,638 new voter registrations in Gombe State during Phase I of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, with women accounting for the majority of registrants for the first time in the state’s electoral history.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Gombe State, Dr. Saad Idris, made this announcement on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting on Phase II of the CVR held at the Gombe International Hotel.

According to Dr. Idris, 35,451 registrations were completed within Gombe State, comprising 14,976 males (42 percent) and 20,475 females (58 percent). The cumulative total of 36,638 new voters, based on INEC’s national records, includes residents of Gombe who registered in other states.

“Gombe State recorded 35,451 new registrations within the state, while the total enrollment at the end of Phase I stood at 36,638 based on our national records. 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,” Dr. Idris stated.

The exercise also recorded 7,613 voter transfers, 9,031 corrections or updates to existing records, and 1,383 Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collections across local government areas in the state.

Despite these achievements, the REC expressed concern that Gombe’s registration figures remain comparatively low when measured against other northern states. He cited Kano, Sokoto, Borno, Zamfara, and Yobe as examples of states with significantly higher enrollment numbers.

To bridge this gap, Dr. Idris announced that INEC has approved the devolution of voter registration to Registration Areas through a 50-day rotational deployment of INEC Voter Enrollment Devices (IVEDs), set to commence on Monday, February 2, 2026.

Under the new arrangement, each of Gombe’s 114 Registration Areas will be assigned two INEC personnel equipped with an IVED for five days, following schedules designed 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 authorization will not be tolerated,” Dr. Idris warned.

The REC also cautioned against multiple registrations, describing the practice as both illegal and counterproductive. “Aside from the fact that it is an offense, the act amounts to a waste of time for both multiple registrants and genuine registrants, who are often discouraged by long queues,” he explained.

He urged residents who have already registered to refrain from re-registering, advising them instead to apply for replacement of lost or damaged PVCs or request transfers where necessary.

Dr. Idris called for collective action from all stakeholders, including political parties, civil society organizations, traditional and religious leaders, the media, and security agencies, to intensify mobilization efforts and support for the exercise.

“This is a shared concern and a shared responsibility,” he said, adding that security agencies must ensure a peaceful environment for registration activities.

Reaffirming INEC’s commitment to credible and inclusive elections, the REC described the CVR as “a cornerstone of democratic participation” and urged stakeholders to intensify their efforts during Phase II to achieve wider participation and improved voter registration figures across Gombe State.