INEC sets up panel to probe underage voting in Kano

The Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) has set up a committee to probe the underage voting in Kano state.

Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the electoral body, disclosed this at a workshop in Lagos on Friday.

He said findings of the panel, headed by a national commissioner, will be made public.

“We wish to assure Nigerians that the matter will be fully investigated,” he said.

“A national commissioner will lead a team including technical staff drawn from voter registry, ICT and electoral operations departments for an immediate and comprehensive investigation.

“We will share the findings with Nigerians.”

There was outrage after images of underage voters were circulated on social media earlier in the week.

Many had expressed concern about its implications for the 2019 election.

The commission had earlier said it could not be held liable for the development because it does not have control over the Kano state electoral agency which conducted the local government election where the illegible voters participated in.

“The commission wishes to inform the public that the images do not relate in any way to any election organised, conducted or superintended by INEC,” Oluwole Uzzi, INEC’s director, voter education and publicity, said in a statement.

“As far as the commission can ascertain, they relate to a local government election conducted at the weekend, and over which we have no legal control or responsibility whatsoever.

“While the commission is charged with conducting elections at the state and national level, state electoral commissions are responsible for conducting the elections on the local government level.”

Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano, had denied that underage voters took part in the exercise.