INEC Sounds Alarm: Underage And Multiple Voter Registrations Will Be Prosecuted

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a strong warning against underage and multiple voter registrations in Kebbi State, ahead of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise scheduled to begin on August 18.

Addressing journalists in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Abubakar Sarkin-Pawa-Dambo, emphasized that INEC would not tolerate any form of registration malpractice.

“INEC will not condone multiple registrations, registration by proxy, underage registration, or any other illegal methods of enrollment,” he stated.

Sarkin-Pawa-Dambo announced that online pre-registration for eligible voters will kick off on August 18, while physical/in-person registration will commence on August 25.

He encouraged Nigerians who have turned 18 to either register online or visit INEC offices in their respective Local Government Areas for physical registration.

The REC also clarified that individuals who have lost or damaged their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), or who have relocated to a new residence, can take part in the CVR to update their information.

“Those with defaced cards, or those seeking corrections to personal details such as names or date of birth, can also visit any of our LGA offices for assistance,” he added.

According to him, the registration exercise will take place at all INEC area offices across Kebbi State from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, excluding weekends and public holidays.

He further disclosed that prior to the 2023 general elections, INEC had registered 2,032,041 voters in the state—1,096,449 males (54%) and 935,592 females (46%).

Kebbi has a total of 225 Registration Areas (RAs) and 3,743 Polling Units, along with three senatorial districts and nine federal constituencies.

Sarkin-Pawa-Dambo noted that 1,847,752 PVCs have already been collected, representing 97% of the registered voters, though a few unclaimed cards still remain at the commission’s offices. He urged their owners to pick them up once a new collection date is announced.