By Joy Salami
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has directed all Commissioners, top political appointees, and government officials in his administration to immediately return to their respective Local Government Areas (LGAs), to lead grassroots mobilization for the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
The directive, which takes effect from Monday, September 1, 2025, was contained in a circular issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Folashade Arike Ayoade, and announced in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo.
According to the circular, appointees are to operate under the coordination of the highest-ranking government official in each LGA.
They are expected to drive voter registration efforts down to the ward level and submit detailed reports at the end of the exercise, including the number of new voters registered in their areas.
Governor Ododo stressed that governance must no longer be centralized in Lokoja alone, noting that officials should be physically present in their communities, accessible to the people, and directly responsive to their needs.
The circular further stated that no appointee is permitted to leave their LGA during the mobilization period without prior written approval from the Secretary to the State Government, warning that defaulters will face disciplinary measures.
The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening grassroots governance and ensuring massive voter participation in the electoral process.