INEC SETS UP COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE UNDERAGE VOTING

The Independent National Electoral Commission has set up an eight-member committee headed by a National Commissioner, Abubakar Nahuche, to probe underage voting in the recently concluded local government elections in Kano.

Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, announced the composition of the committee on Wednesday during a meeting with the executive members of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commission of Nigeria (FOSIECON).

Other members of the committee include: National Commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu; the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, Mike Ingini; Adamawa State REC, Kassim Geidam; Yakubu Duku of the Electoral Operations Department,   Rukayat Bello of the Voter Registry Department,  Paul Omokore of the ICT Department and Jude Okwuonu from the P&M Department .

Listing the terms of reference, the Commission chairman said:

“The Commission, which has two weeks to submit its report, shall be guided by the following: Ascertain if the voter register requested by the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission was actually used in the Local Government election.

“Investigate the widespread report that persons below the statutory age of 18 years voted using INEC’s register. Engage with stakeholders on issues related your the use of the voter register in the election and make any other recommendations which in the opinion of the committee are relevant to its assignment.”

Speaking further, Prof Yakubu said:

“INEC will continue to improve on our procedures. We are totally committed to the task of strengthening our electoral process. Where we have cause to to review aspects of our collaboration, we will not hesitate to do so. One of such area is the alleged incidence of underage voting in the recent Local Government election in Kano state.

“We promised Nigerians that the matter will be fully investigated and a committee will be set up for this purpose headed by a National Commissioner with Resident Electoral Commissioners and staff from the technical department of the commission as members.

“For the purpose of clarification, the Committee is not investigating the conduct or outcome of the Local Government election by the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission. These are outside the constitutional and legal responsibilities of INEC. Rather, the committee shall focus solely on the allegations of underage persons on the voter register.”

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