The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it would expunge under-aged from its e voters’ register to stop underage and ineligible voting.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu who revealed this at an interactive session with journalists in Lagos on Friday, said the commission would ensure that underage and ineligible voting would be eradicated.
“That is why we threw the register open to all Nigerians who I think own it. The register is pasted at all the polling units and wards in all the 774 local government areas of Nigeria for clarity and objections by Nigerians.
“We are now harvesting the claims and objections by Nigerians to work on them and make sure that we continually clean up the register.
“I am assuring you that we will continue this exercise because INEC register is a national asset that Nigerians should be proud of,” he said.
Yakubu said INEC was working with security agencies to conduct elections in trouble spots within the country., adding that “Our responsibility is clearly cut out and that is to conduct the coming elections in all parts of the country. Security agencies provide security.
“Presently, we are working with security agencies to conduct the 2023 elections. We are determined and committed, and with the support of everybody, not only the security agencies, we will conduct credible elections in all parts of the country in 2023 and subsequently.
“For example, who believed that we we will have a credible election in Anambra in 2021? But we did because there was collaboration between INEC and the security agencies to make sure we had free and fair governorship poll there.”
The INEC chairman, however, assured that the commission was working to ensure that all registered voters participated in the elections.
“Those whose Permanent Voters’ Cards are burnt will vote if they apply for a new card. We will reprint those cards and the owners can vote.
“This also covers those who have lost their PVCs.”
