The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to flag off a voter education roadshow in Bayelsa State on September 11, as part of efforts to maximise the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

The initiative, organised through INEC’s Voter Education, Publicity and Gender Department, was disclosed by the department’s head, Mr. Christian Utong, during a strategic engagement with accredited Voter Education Service Providers in Yenagoa on Saturday.

The meeting brought together civil society organisations, advocacy groups, and community partners committed to strengthening voter sensitisation across the state.

Utong explained that the roadshow would use drama, music, and interactive outreach to engage communities directly, tackle misinformation around the CVR, and encourage residents to check their voter status.

He emphasised that the exercise is strictly for citizens who have not registered before, those who just turned 18, and individuals with lost, defaced, or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

“I must warn that multiple registration remains an electoral offence. With the Automated Biometric Identification System, which uses both fingerprint and facial recognition, such irregularities will be automatically detected,” Utong said.

He assured that INEC is committed to credible, inclusive, and transparent elections, stressing that women, youths, persons with disabilities, and people in hard-to-reach communities would be fully carried along.

The CVR, which runs from August 2025 to August 2026, will feature intensified sensitisation efforts, with September 11 marking the first phase of mass mobilisation. INEC officials will be on the ground during the roadshow to assist citizens with status verification, guidance, and voter registration issues.

INEC urged Bayelsans to take full advantage of the exercise, reminding them that the PVC remains the only valid tool to participate in elections.