The Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Justice Bola Okikiolu-Ighile (Rtd.), has issued a strong call to action, urging eligible residents across Lagos to seize the opportunity presented by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

In a renewed push to deepen democratic participation, Okikiolu-Ighile described the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) as far more than a mere identification tool, calling it a “gateway to accountability and good governance.” She warned that failure to register effectively sidelines citizens from shaping leadership and policy outcomes.

Despite Lagos maintaining its status as Nigeria’s electoral powerhouse with over 7.1 million registered voters, the LASIEC boss expressed concern over what she termed a “democratic gap,” noting that millions of eligible residents—particularly youths, first-time voters, and recent migrants—remain outside the voter register.

“This is not just about numbers,” she emphasised. “Every unregistered individual represents a lost voice in our democracy and a missed opportunity to influence the future.”

The commission is now intensifying grassroots sensitisation efforts, targeting communities, religious centres, schools, and workplaces to drive home the urgency of voter registration. Okikiolu-Ighile stressed that civic responsibility must be shared, urging stakeholders to amplify the message that participation in elections is both a right and a duty.

Echoing her sentiments, LASIEC Commissioner Chief Akim Durojaiye Oluwo lauded INEC’s consistency in sustaining the CVR exercise, describing it as critical to ensuring credible and inclusive elections as the country prepares for the 2027 general polls.

Also speaking, the Commission’s Permanent Secretary, Abdul-Rafiu Omowole Fashola, underscored the importance of citizen engagement, noting that “a thriving democracy depends on active participation, starting with voter registration.”

With momentum building ahead of the next electoral cycle, LASIEC is calling for a statewide movement to ensure that every eligible Lagosian is registered, every PVC collected, and every vote cast—sending a clear message that in a democracy, silence is not an option.