By; VICTOR DAZANG, Kaduna
The Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Independent National Electoral Commission,(,INEC) Mr Osazi-Uzzi has said that underage registration transpired in some communities because INEC staff were subjected to threats by members of those communities.
He said this on Wednesday while answering questions during a programme on Africa Independent Television(AIT) titled, “Kakaaki”
He explained further that it is not actually in the organization’s character to do so but registration officers do fall into apparent danger and risk of being killed or assaulted and therefore they succumb as the only option to escape, adding that the officers are instructed to report immediately after such experiences. He further stressed that some parents come along with underage children seeking registration forcefully.
The Director explained that there are processes used by INEC to scrutinize the register even after the perpetrators have their way such as;removing names of people identified as underage persons after the registration.
He pointed out that registration process is handled by humans and cannot always be perfect, urging the media to assist in watching and exposing such ills wherever they are detected to have been committed.
The Director maintained that the local government elections held in Kano State were not conducted by INEC but by Kano State.
He assured members of the public that the 2019 general elections would be free,fair and credible.
