INEC to Reps: We followed due process on voters’ register

  The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it followed due process in the clean-up of the national voters’ register and cannot go outside the law on other variables on the register. Mr Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said this at the weekend in Abuja […]

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it followed due process in the clean-up of the national voters’ register and cannot go outside the law on other variables on the register.

Mr Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said this at the weekend in Abuja when asked to speak on the House of Representatives resolution on the matter.

The House of Representatives had on Thursday asked INEC to remove the names of persons who are dead and non-existent from the voters’ register.

Oyekanmi, however, said the commission was yet to receive any communication from the lawmakers on the matter.

He said, “Our attention has been drawn to media reports of the resolution passed by the House of Representatives yesterday asking the INEC to take certain actions on the national register of voters.

“However, it is also the tradition of the house to officially transmit such resolutions with details of what transpired to the commission each time such specific resolutions are passed to enable INEC take the required steps.

“But the commission is yet to receive any communication from the house to that effect. Therefore, I cannot respond on the basis of media reports.”

Daily Trust reports that the reps passed the resolution sequel to the adoption of a motion under Matters of Urgent Public Importance titled: “Urgent need for INEC to develop a mechanism to clean up its system of dead and fictitious registered voters”, sponsored by Hon Leke Abejide.

In his lead debate, Hon Abejide said, “The house is aware that the INEC’s register is full of millions of people who are dead and non-existent persons. Even my own father who passed on long ago still has his name displayed on the board.”