INEC reports own staff to police, DSS for illegal registration

The Independent National Electoral Commission says it has
reported some of its senior officials in Taraba State to security
agencies for allegedly registering ineligible voters during the
Continuous Voter Registration exercise.

INEC failed to mention if the illegal voters were aliens or
underage voters. It also failed to reveal the identities of the
senior officials that were given queries.

In a statement by the Head of Voter Education and Publicity in
Taraba State, Fabian Vwamhi, the commission said the illegal voters
had been expunged from the register.

The statement read in part, “Following its laid down processes,
INEC Taraba office has discovered that some ineligible voters have
been registered in the ongoing CVR exercise.

“This is not only contrary to INEC’s guidelines for
registration, but is also a violation of the Electoral Act.

“Consequently, the Taraba State office has flagged these illegal
registrations for removal from the voter register.

“In addition, it has queried the electoral officer as well as
the registration officer for the centre.

“It has informed the headquarters of the commission in Abuja and
drawn the attention of security agencies for further investigation
and possible prosecution of all found to have been involved,
including INEC staff.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission says it has
reported some of its senior officials in Taraba State to security
agencies for allegedly registering ineligible voters during the
Continuous Voter Registration exercise.

INEC failed to mention if the illegal voters were aliens or
underage voters. It also failed to reveal the identities of the
senior officials that were given queries.

In a statement by the Head of Voter Education and Publicity in
Taraba State, Fabian Vwamhi, the commission said the illegal voters
had been expunged from the register.

The statement read in part, “Following its laid down processes,
INEC Taraba office has discovered that some ineligible voters have
been registered in the ongoing CVR exercise.

“This is not only contrary to INEC’s guidelines for
registration, but is also a violation of the Electoral Act.

“Consequently, the Taraba State office has flagged these illegal
registrations for removal from the voter register.

“In addition, it has queried the electoral officer as well as
the registration officer for the centre.

“It has informed the headquarters of the commission in Abuja and
drawn the attention of security agencies for further investigation
and possible prosecution of all found to have been involved,
including INEC staff.”