By Christiana Ekpa and Umar Muhammad Puma
The House of Representatives yesterday set up Ad-hoc committee to investigate the incidence of registration and issuance of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to under aged voters by the INEC.
This followed a motion moved by Rep Johnbull Shekarau.
Presenting the motion, Shekarau expressed concerns over reports on the social, print and electronic media which indicated that there were incidences of under aged voters who presented themselves at polling units with Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to vote in the recently conducted Local Government Elections in Kano State.
He explained further that the Director of Publicity and Voter Education at INEC, Oluwole Osaze Uzzi, while responding to questions on the Africa Independent Television (AIT) on the matter on 15/02/2018, said that the under aged voters were registered because the lives of the registration officers were being threatened.
“The incidence has caused danger to the security of lives of officials posted to handle sensitive national issues such as registration of eligible voters
“The incidence, if left unchecked, will have adverse effects on the peaceful conduct, credibility of future elections and the legitimacy of elected leaders,” he said.
Contributing to the motion, Hon. Uzoma Nkem-Abonta(Abia State PDP) stressed the need to conduct an investigation into the matter. He averred that the house should call for the INEC voter register used during the election, to ascertain the lapses and to restore confidence in the nation’s electoral system.
The committee is expected to report back to the house within five weeks for further legislative action.
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