8-member committee to probe Kano underage voting claims

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the formation of an eight-member committee to investigate claims of underage voting in the Kano State local government elections that took place on February 10, 2018.

There has been public outcry against the commission after pictures and videos emerged online showing apparently underage children voting during the election.

According to a report by The Punch, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, announced the committee in Abuja during a meeting with the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria on Wednesday, February 21.

The committee will be headed by a National Commissioner, Abubakar Nahuche while members include: National Commissioner, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu; the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Mike Ingini; Adamawa State REC, Kassim Geidam.

Others are: Mr. Yakubu Duku of the Electoral Operations Department, Mrs. Rukayat Bello of the Voter Registry Department, Mr. Paul Omokore of the ICT Department and Mr. Jude Okwuonu.

Officials can't prevent underage voting - INEC

While addressing the controversy on the African Independent Television (AIT) on February 14, INEC's Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, explained that the reason officials cannot prevent underage registration and voting in the region is that they are threatened by some members of the community.

He said when officials face apparent danger, they can decide to cave in to the pressure and report the issue when they are in a safe zone.

He said, "I agree that it is the responsibility of the registration officer to do that (refuse to register underage persons), but there are times that circumstances are such that where there is present and clear danger that he risks being assaulted or being killed, I think it will be unreasonable to expect him not to succumb to the pressure. But we encourage them to report immediately they get out of that dangerous zone."

Osaze-Uzzi further revealed that the agency has mechanisms in place to invalidate registrations that are made under undue pressure such as threat to life of officials.

He lamented that it's impossible for the process to be perfect, but implored the media and members of the public to assist the agency by exposing fraudulent areas and cleaning up the register as the 2019 general elections approach.