PRESS RELEASE
ππΌπππ ππ πππΌπππΌ πππΌπππππΌπππ 100 ππππ½ππ πΎππππππππ ππ πΏππππ πππ πππππππππΌππππ πΌππΏ πππ½πππππΌππππ ππ ππππππ ππππππππΌππππ πππππΎπππ
Port Harcourt, Nigeria ~ 24 September 2025
The Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Sir (Hon.) Allwell Ihunda DSSRS, JP, today inaugurated a 100-member Ward Committee to spearhead sensitization and mobilization efforts for the ongoing voter registration exercise across the Local Government Area.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Mayor expressed concern over the low response to the ongoing voter registration exercise, emphasizing the need for increased awareness at the grassroots level.
βAs of today, the response we have received is not encouraging,β Mayor Ihunda stated. βWe have therefore constituted Ward Committees to sensitize and mobilize our people from all wards in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area to register.β
The Mayor explained that the registration exercise targets these categories of residents:
Citizens who have just attained the age of 18;
Those aged 18 and above who have never registered; and
Individuals who have relocated from other local governments, states, or countries and wish to transfer their voting centres to Port Harcourt City.
He noted that the cosmopolitan nature of Port Harcourt City has led to a steady increase in population, with many eligible voters residing in the wards who have yet to complete their registration.
βWe need to go into the communities, identify these residents, talk to them, and mobilize them to register. By so doing, we will also increase our voting strength in the Local Government,” the Mayor said.
He further reminded residents that obtaining a voterβs card is a civic right and also serves as a valid means of identification for various purposes, including opening bank accounts.
The Mayor urged committee members to take their assignment seriously, describing them as critical partners in the Local Governmentβs effort to achieve a high voter registration turnout.
βThe essence of todayβs meeting is to inaugurate you as Ward Committees with the primary objective of sensitizing and mobilizing people in your wards to register. INEC will handle the registration and biometric capturing, but it is your duty to get the people there. We will support you and make every necessary resource available to ease your work,β he assured.
The Mayor commended the Leader and Councillors of the Local Government Legislative Council for their swift action in nominating capable individuals from each ward to serve on the committee.
The Ward Committees are expected to begin work immediately, driving awareness and participation in the voter registration exercise across all wards in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.
