The Kano State Government has expressed serious concern over the state's disappointing performance in the ongoing online voter registration exercise conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), where it currently ranks 18th among Nigeria's 36 states despite being the country's most populous state.

Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, revealed this concerning statistic on Wednesday during a meeting between the state's voter registration awareness committee and members of the Kwankwasiyya writers and musicians association. The meeting aimed to solicit support in raising public awareness about the importance of voter registration.

According to Waiya, initial engagement with INEC officials in Kano indicated that approximately 5,000 residents had completed the preliminary stages of the free online registration. However, updated nationwide figures painted a more alarming picture.

"Out of 1,379,342 Nigerians registered nationwide, only 10,000 registrations came from Kano, placing the state at 18th position, behind several less populous states," Waiya stated. "This is disturbing, because Kano, as the most populous state, is expected to lead in voter registration."

The commissioner emphasized the need for intensified mobilization efforts across the state. He disclosed that while Kano currently has six million registered voters, the government has set an ambitious target to increase this figure to 10 million before the 2027 general elections.

The meeting with the Kwankwasiyya writers and musicians association represents part of a broader strategy to leverage influential community groups in driving voter registration awareness. The government hopes that through such partnerships, more eligible citizens will understand the importance of participating in the electoral process.

Political analysts note that Kano's voting strength has historically played a significant role in national elections, making this current registration shortfall particularly concerning for the state's political influence in the upcoming electoral cycle.

Stay updated on this developing story and more by following BenriNews on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and Telegram.