Looming Disenfranchisement for Intending Voters
registration of voters, adding that there will be severe sanctions for the officers involved.
However, a review of some of the states on the INEC released register showed that there still exist irregularities in the voters’ list. The register contained double registration, underage voters and some fictitious names hard to resonate with reality.
Double and Multiple Registrations
Some names were found to appear multiple times on the voters’ register. This is despite the claim by INEC that double and multiple registrations are invalid and were deleted from the register.
These details have the same name, personal information, and photographs but different Voter Identification Numbers (VINs)
Some of the names and details found to appear twice on the voters’ register are Abubakar Maryam, F, 1990. She registered in Kano State, Fagge LGA, Fagge A Ward, and Dandali 1 Polling Unit.
Bala, Habiba; DOB-Y: 1951; Gender: F; Kano State LGA: Bunkure; Polling Unit: Unguwar Baki I; Ward: Bono; and Adamu, Hadiza; DOB-Y: 1970; Gender: F; Borno State; LGA: Gwoza; Polling Unit: Mohammed Diya; Ward: Ngoshe.
Strange Names
Some of the strange names found include Abdghyu, Ghhyjkk, DOB-Y: 1960 Gender: M; Abia State; LGA: Aba North; Polling Unit: Eziama High School - Eziama High School I; Ward: Eziama.
And, Akpaqn, Okn J, DOB-Y: 1980; Gender: M; Abia State; LGA: Aba North; Polling Unit: Eziama High School - Eziama High School I; Ward: Eziama, to mention a few.
Underage Voters
Underage voting has always been at the forefront of the discussion in every election cycle.
The Northern part of the country has always been criticized for this. However, a check of the register revealed that underage voters also exist in the Southern part of the country.
Some of the names found to be allegedly underage voters are, Abdu Kabiru, M, 1992; Kano State LGA: Bunkure; Polling Unit: Unguwar Baki I; Ward: Bono.
Daniel, Ngbede, DOB-Y: 1992; Gender: M; Benue; LGA: Agatu; Polling Unit: Ugboju Primary School; Ward: Odugbeho.
Ekpe, Patricia O.; DOB-Y: 1990; Gender: F Cross River; LGA: Biase; Polling Unit: Obioko Square, Adim; Ward: Adim.
Bashir, Mohammed, DOB-Y: 1989; Gender: M Borno State; LGA: Gubio; Polling Unit: Juwula; Ward: Dabira.
Isami, Modu, DOB-Y: 1991; Gender: M; Borno State; LGA: Gubio; Polling Unit: Juwula; Ward: Dabira.
Chukwu, Ogechi A. DOB-Y: 1992; Gender: F; Ebonyi State; LGA: Ezza North; Polling Unit: Onunworie Elom; Ward: Inyere.
Nwankwo, Mery, DOB-Y: 1992 Gender: F; Ebonyi State; LGA: Ezza North; Polling Unit: Onunworie Elom; Ward: Inyere, among others.
Speaking against the existence of underage voters in the register, an Activist, Aisha Yesufu through a video shared on Facebook, questioned the electoral commission for registering children for election.
According to her, “INEC, what is going on? How do you have little children registered? Children that you see that are barely 10, you register them, and you say they were born (in) 1992. Do you know the meaning of 1992? That was 30 years ago. And you put some little children that are not up to 12 years, how did you register them, how come?
“When they entered the office, didn’t you see that these were kids? I understand the fact that sometimes you are in a state where there is too much pressure, they might wound you or attack you, but as soon as you get to your office, you should know that these are kids. Even after registration, can’t you see that these are kids?
“It’s been a long time that people are talking about underage voting from the northern part of the country, they put a lot of underage voting. Haven’t you still seen how bad governance is affecting everybody, yet you do underage voting, where has it taken anybody to, where has it taken the region to?” she asked.
She thereby urged INEC to conduct a further clean-up of the register and remove all ineligible voters ahead of the general elections.
INEC Reacts, Gives Room for Objections
Reacting to the concerns raised by Nigerians
on why children are on the INEC list, INEC’s Commissioner for Information and Voters Education, Festus Okoye said, the commission made the voters registers public so Nigerians can help them clean it up.
According to him, “Anybody can go to our website and object. We cannot claim that the register does not have errors.”
On the voters’ register, the electoral commission gave room for the public to object to any fault or wrong data seen on the register.
However, the process for objecting was noted to be complicated and revealed too much private information about the person objecting.
According to INEC, to object, the public is expected to provide the voter’s number and date of birth of the voter in question, state the reason for the objection and attach proof of objection which must be either an affidavit, birth or death certificate, a national identity card, driver’s license or passport.
The person objecting is also required to take a passport photograph, provide personal information including mobile phone number and residential address, and ensure that his details are registered with INEC as a valid registered voter.
Delayed PVC Collection
On October 26, 2022, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disclosed that it was yet to print the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) of Nigerians who participated in the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise from January 15 to July 31, 2022.
INEC’s Commissioner for Information and Voters Education, Festus Okoye, made this known during an interview with a major TV station in Nigeria.
According to him, “If you were one of those that registered with the Commission during the Continuous Voter Registration exercise between June 28, 2021, and January 14, 2022, you can track where your Permanent Voter Card is and you will still be in a position to collect it.
“But if you register between January
15, 2022, and July 31, 2022, the implication is that you are not yet a registered voter in the true sense of the word because we have just finished the cleaning up of the voters’ register which is still ongoing.
“So, it is not possible for you to know where your permanent voter’s card is because we are yet to print your permanent voter cards and we are yet to make these permanent voter cards available for the registrants.”
Challenge of Uncollected PVCs
On Thursday, November 10, 2022, INEC’s Commissioner for Information and Voters Education, Festus Okoye through a statement, disclosed that about 65,699 uncollected PVCs were destroyed in the fire that engulfed the office.
Recall that INEC’s office was set ablaze by hoodlums in Ogun state local government.
According to him, “The resident electoral commissioner (REC) for Ogun state, Dr Niyi Ijalaiye, reported that our office in Abeokuta South local government area was attacked and set ablaze.
“The incident occurred around 1.15 am when some unidentified persons overpowered the security personnel on duty and set the entire building ablaze.
“The main building and all the commission’s movable assets in the office were destroyed. They include 904 ballot boxes, 29 voting cubicles, 30 megaphones, 57 election bags, 8 electric power generators and 65,699 uncollected permanent voters cards (PVCs).”
Also In July 2022, there were viral videos on social media showing a large amount of PVCs found in a drainage system in Imo state, while another batch of PVCs was also found lying in some unidentified offices alleged to belong to a top politician in Nigeria. There were also reports that PVCs were found in a drainage system in Rivers.
While many Nigerians on the social media platform accused INEC of complicity to disenfranchise Nigerians during the 2023 General Elections, some argued that the PVCs might have been stolen by gunmen, who attacked the commission’s offices in the regions.
Reacting to incidents, Okoye said the commission has vowed not to spare any of its staff found culpable in the matter. He said it would not allow any elements to sabotage its efforts and bring disrepute to its integrity ahead of the 2023 polls and beyond.
According to him, “The attention of the Commission has been drawn to videos trending online of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) allegedly buried underground in some locations, including the
compound of a high-profile person.
“The Commission is not taking these allegations lightly. We have commenced an immediate investigation and anyone found culpable in this diabolical scheme intended to disenfranchise Nigerians will be sanctioned under the law. Every eligible Nigerian who registered as a voter is entitled to his/her PVC. The constitutional right to vote in any election must never be suppressed or abridged in any way.
“As far as the record of the Commission is concerned, PVCs have been printed for all valid registrants in Nigeria up to 14th January 2022 and delivered to all the states of the Federation for collection by voters. We will not allow retrogressive elements to sabotage our efforts.”
It is therefore expedient to note at this juncture, that all these highlighted issues are capable of discouraging voters participation and disenfranchisement same during the 2023 general elections, except more efforts are intentionally initiated toward PVC collections, voter awareness, and protection of voters during the collection of PVCs.
INEC Assures of Seamless PVCs Collection
Following the end of the statutory period for the display of the register of voters for claims and objections, INEC on November 26, assured Nigerians of their determination to make the collection of their PVCs across the country seamless irrespective of the short proximity to elections.
Speaking through a statement, Okoye said, the commission has developed a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and will be among the issues to be discussed and finalised at a retreat scheduled to hold in Lagos from November 28 to December 2, 2022, involving all the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).
“At the end of the retreat, the Commission will release the dates as well as the detailed procedure for the immediate collection of PVCs nationwide. The Commission appreciates the patience and understanding of Nigerians, especially those who registered as voters or applied for transfer replacement of their cards from January to July 2022. In making the cards available for collection, the Commission is also working to ensure that the process is hitch-free.”
Punishment of Offenders
The statement also revealed that the Nigeria Police has arrested some individuals found to be in illegal possession of voters’ cards in some States of the Federation.
According to Okoye, “In one case, the police has concluded the investigation and handed over the case file to the Commission resulting in the successful prosecution of one Nasiru Idris at a Magistrate Court in Sokoto who was found to be in possession 101 PVCs in contravention of Sections 117 and 145 of the Electoral Act 2002. He has been sentenced to a year in prison.
“Similarly, the police in Kano State have arrested a man who was found with 367 PVCs. The suspect has been charged to court and the Commission is pursuing his prosecution.”
The Commission is not taking these allegations lightly. We have commenced an immediate investigation and anyone found culpable in this diabolical scheme intended to disenfranchise Nigerians will be sanctioned under the law