By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner for Oyo state Barrister Mutiu Agboke has declared that ” there is no underage voting” in the commission’s record as alleged recently by some Nigerians.
Barrister Agboke dropped this hint on Monday at a sensitisation campaign on electoral processes organised by the Oyo State office of Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), held at Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke-Agbara Ashi, Ibadan.
The REC disclosed that contrary to allegation of under aged voters in INEC record, the Commission’s invesyigations hsve revealed that there was nothing of such in the alleged state.
“Look at the issue of underaged voting they are talking about, for us, the commission, it is for us to look at it. And we have insisted that after 2015 poll we don’t have any record in our register of underage voting. INEC constituted a committee to look at this, they visited the place, commission members were engaged but we find out that there is no underage voting in our record and we have come out to tell the public.” he saidv
The REC added ” and I can tell you that in Oyo state, no record of underage voting shall be recorded in Oyo state. Even foreigners, if you look at it, we delisted over 200 names of foreigners in our record across the country”.
Speaking futthet Barrister Agboke urged religious leaders in the country to henceforth be participaying in the Nigeria electoral processes to guide against a situation whereby ‘devilish’ individuals will hijack the mantle of leadership in Nigeria.
“And it is better for us to know that election is not only for politicians, look at this angle, look at it, if INEC is organising the election, the constitution has spelled it out that INEC is to conduct elections for office of Mr. President, national assembly and governors, INEC is to register political parties and evaluate, monitor operation of political parties, INEC is to ensure that these political parties finances are monitored, register political parties. INEC is to ensure that these political parties are monitored”.
According to the REC, there is the need for religious leaders and their followers across Nigeria to desist from sitting on the fence on electoral issues and electoral processes are mentioned but that
religious leaders across the country and their followers should not see elections as business of the politicians alone saying that it is the duty of all and sundry to participate in the processes.
“There is need for them to participate in election process and electioneering, and there is need for them to participate and to encourage people to participate in the process. The mosques and churches, majority of the worshipers are also there. We have been to the Ibadan Central Mosque, the churches and Mosques are powerful pillars of religious activities in Nigeria.” he said.
The Oyo INEC REC maintained “we are here to tell the church that no, you cannot stand aloof, you cannot stand out, you cannot sit on the fence. INEC is doing continuous voters registration, INEC is creating awareness on INEC programs. INEC is raising the level of consciousness. In Oyo state, we have over 600,000 unclaimed PVCs. “
“The reason why we are here today is to appeal to the teeming members of this church not to stay away from the electoral processes.
If the Churches and Mosques stay away, you are allowing the devilish people to take over power. That is why we are saying don’t allow ‘devilish’ people take over power. Your PVC is your right to choose your leaders.
On change of locations by some Nigerians who may need to change their voters cards, the REC advised them to apply to INEC for transfer of their PVCs rather than attempting to register again, saying, ” we cannot sit down in the conform of our offices and be lamenting that people are not collecting their PVCs, look at the crowd that are here, look at the opportunity we have used, less than 5 minutes and this is going to be s continuous one.”
” We are going to engage NURTW, student unions, because most of them are more than 18 years and we are going to allow them be part of the process. And that is why we have brought it to this church. You can move from one location to another. If you are living in Jos and now living in Oyo state, you don’t need to register again. If you are living in Egbeda and now you are living in Apata, you don’t need to register again. What we will do is to move your PVC to Apata”.
He added “we will transfer your PVC for you. That is why we are saying we need this consistent education, we need this constituent sensitization and the more we are consistent, the better for us.”.
