INEC Gombe Seeks EFCC, NYSC, NOA, NCoS Support for Credible CVR

By Our Correspondent

In a bid to deepen collaboration with critical stakeholders and ensure the success of the forthcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Gombe State, Dr. Sa’ad Umar Idris, has embarked on a strategic tour of major institutions under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

The visits, which took place today, saw the REC and his team engaging with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the National Orientation Agency (NOA), and the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS).

At the Gombe Zonal Command of the EFCC, Dr. Idris commended the Commission’s unwavering commitment to tackling vote-buying and other electoral malpractices, noting that its efforts have led to notable successes across the country. “The EFCC’s vigilance has greatly strengthened the integrity of our elections,” he said.

In response, Zonal Director Austine Adache revealed that three convictions for electoral offences have been secured in Gombe State. He reaffirmed the EFCC’s readiness to partner with INEC, especially in capacity-building initiatives championed by the REC.

At the NYSC Secretariat, Dr. Idris lauded corps members for their patriotic service during elections, describing them as “a critical force behind credible polls in Nigeria.” He assured State Coordinator, Chinwe Nwachukwu, that INEC remains fully committed to prioritizing the welfare and security of corps members deployed for electoral duties.

The REC’s third stop was the National Orientation Agency (NOA), where he emphasized the importance of grassroots sensitization and voter mobilisation ahead of the CVR. Dr. Idris also pledged to integrate NOA staff into INEC’s upcoming monthly staff capacity-building sessions, aimed at enhancing public enlightenment strategies.

The tour concluded with a visit to the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), where Controller Salihu Abdullahi expressed optimism about potential electoral reforms that could allow security personnel and inmates to vote in 2027. He welcomed INEC’s offer to train officers of the Service on electoral procedures, describing it as a “timely and progressive initiative.”

The REC was accompanied on the visits by senior officials of the Commission, including Ag. Administrative Secretary, Fadimatu Aliyu Bakari; HOD Electoral Operations, Audu Mamuda Dauya; HOD Voter Education and Publicity, Rifkatu Duku; HOD Election and Party Monitoring, Gambo Arabi; HOD Legal Services, Kundum Nenfort Patrick, Esq; HOD Voter Registry/ICT, Engr. Bitson Filibus; HOD Finance & Accounts, Babayo Isa; and the State Public Affairs Officer, Mohorret Bigun.

The outreach forms part of INEC’s broader plan to galvanize public participation in the CVR and ensure a seamless electoral process ahead of future polls.