The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the public to report noticed cases of underage registration.
Mahmoud Yakub, INEC Chairman, made the appeal on Thursday while addressing a session at the ongoing 4th edition of Social Media Week Lagos 2018.
The event, tagged ‘Let’s Talk Governance’ was organised by Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE) in collaboration with the United State Agency for International Development (USAID).
Yakub said that INEC would display names of registered voters in the first quarter of 2018 from March 26 to March 31, for claims and objections.
He said that the display of the register would allow registered voters check and correct their details before the printing of their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
”The display and hearing of claims and objections would begin on March 26 to end on March 31.
”I advise the public to take note of these dates by going to their registration centres to check for any form of mistakes in their data before the printing of the PVCs, ” he said.
Yakub urged the public to support the electoral body by putting forward their observations during the display and hearing of claims and objections, so that appropriate action could be taken.
”Investigation into the alleged incidence of underage registration and voting is ongoing, and we promise Nigerians that the matter will be fully investigated. So, let Nigerians feel free to to report noticed cases of underage registration to the Commission ” he said.
In his remarks, the United States Consul General in Lagos, John Bray, urged Nigerians to adopt the concept of ‘Self Policing’ in the use of the social media, especially as the political year was around the corner.
”The U.S. Government is excited about the growth of social media in Nigeria. It is a market place of ideas and a powerful tool to put out ideas.
”Every citizen now has free access to democratic ideas, but when you see bad ideas, use the social media to counter such ideas; just like we have in ‘Balanced Journalism’, to get out a balanced truth,” Mr. Bray said.
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