Under-aged voting: INEC sets up 8-member investigation panel

…Panel to turn in report in two weeks

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set up a eight member committee to investigate the alleged under-aged voting in the recent Kano state Local Government Election.

The Committee which has two weeks to turn in its report has Engineer Abubakar Nahuche, a national Commissioner as Chairman.

Other members of the committee are: Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, a national Commissioner, Barrister Kassim Geidam Resident Electoral Commissioner, Adamawa state, Yakubu Duku, Electoral Operations Department, Mrs. Rukayat Bello Voter Registry Department, Paul Omokere ICT Department and Mr. Jude Okwuonu P&M Department, Secretary.

The Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu announced the composition of the panel yesterday when he received in audience Leadership of the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON) at the Commission’s headquarters.

Yakubu said the committee shall focus solely on the allegation of under-aged persons on the voter register.

The committee he said among other things is to ascertain if the voter register requested by the KSIEC was actually used in the council poll.

As part of the terms of reference, the committee is to investigate the widespread report that persons below the statutory age of 18 years voted using INEC’s register.

The committee he said is also expected to engage with stakeholders on issues related to the use of the voter register in the election.

At the end of its work, the committee is expected to make any other recommendations which in its opinion are relevant to its assignment.

He stressed that since both bodies have constitutional mandate to conduct elections, the committee is not investigating the conduct or outcome of Local Government election by the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KSIEC).

Besides, he said issue of under-aged voting has given cause for the review of the aspect of the collaboration between the Commission and the SIEC.

He said: “INEC will continue to improve on our processes and procedures. We are totally committees to the task of strengthening our electoral process. Where we have cause to review aspects of our collaboration, we will not hesitate to do so. One such area is the alleged incidence of under-aged 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 technical departments 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 allegation of under-aged persons on the voter register.

On the relationship between INEC and the forum of SIEC, Yakubu regretted the none consistency in the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by both parties in 2012.

This he blamed on paucity of funds and the high rate of turnover of SIEC Chairmen and Commission members.

“We believe that consistent collaboration with SIECs and the knowledge gained through the regular conduct of Local Government elections are invaluable to enhancing the quality of elections at that level.

“Regrettably, both the processes and outcomes of Local Government elections have become issues of heated discussion among Nigerians,” he added.

While noting that the existing MoU needs to be reviewed as a matter of urgency, he however assured the forum of the commission’s readiness to partner with SIECs.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Forum, Justice Igbozurike Akomas (rtd) said the visit was to reawaken and strengthen the tenets of the MoU so as to achieve the core objectives of conducting free, fair and credible elections at all levels.

Akomas also solicited for the support of INEC towards SIECs achieving financial independence.

He said, “We wish to solicit the continued cooperation of INEC in working towards SIECs becoming more efficient in discharge of their constitutional duties. Today any person who visits the INEC website sees a clock counting down to the 2019 General Elections. It is a reflection of how INEC legal framework has given her capacity and independence to carryout long term plan towards election. This we believe is also achievable for SIECs if INEC supports the struggle of SIECs towards financial independence. “