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Multiple Registrations, Strange Names, Pictures Of ‘Minors’ On 2023 Voters’ Register Released By Nigerian Electoral Body, INEC

Inec
November 14, 2022

INEC had said the entire preliminary register containing 93,522,272 registrants will be published for 2 weeks on the INEC portal, from November 12 to 25.

The 2023 voters’ register released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed some irregularities that took place during the Continuous Voters Registration, as well as, validated the claims of multiple registrations and underage voters existing in the voters’ list.

 

INEC had said the entire preliminary register containing 93,522,272 registrants will be published for 2 weeks on the INEC portal, from November 12 to 25.

 

The commission added that individuals can make claims that the name of a registered voter had been omitted and could make corrections, while also adding that citizens can raise objections against the inclusion of any person either not qualified to vote or the name of a dead person on the register.

 

In September, INEC said it detected many double, multiple and ineligible registration in the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) held between January 1 and July 31.

 

The commission added that after a rigorous clean-up of the data using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) 2,780,756 registrants were identified as ineligible and were deleted from the register.

 

The commission said about 23 of its officers were found culpable in aiding the double 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 imported to participate in the 2023 election.

 

Double Registration

 

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, Dandali 1 Polling Unit.

 

Bala, Habiba; DOB-Y: 1951; Gender: F; Kano State LGA: Bunkure; Polling Unit: Unguwar Baki I; Ward: Bono.

 

Adamu, Hadiza; DOB-Y: 1970; Gender: F; Borno State; LGA: Gwoza; Polling Unit: Mohammed Diya; Ward: Ngoshe.

Strange Names

 

DOB-Y: 1960 Gender: M; Abia State; LGA: Aba North; Polling Unit: Eziama High School - Eziama High School I; Ward: Eziama Abdghyu, Ghhyjkk.

 

DOB-Y: 1980; Gender: M; Abia State; LGA: Aba North; Polling Unit: Eziama High School - Eziama High School I; Ward: Eziama

 

Akpaqn, Okn J.

 

DOB-Y: 1967; Gender: M; Abia State; LGA: Aba North; Polling Unit: Eziama High School - Eziama High School I; Ward: Eziama.

Suspected 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.

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Nweji, Chibuike D. DOB-Y: 2000 Gender: M; Ebonyi State; LGA: Ezza North; Polling Unit: Onunworie Elom; Ward: Inyere.

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Emechie, Ogechi B. DOB-Y: 1992, Gender: F; Imo State; LGA: Ideato North; Polling Unit: Ezekpherchi Square; Ward: Isiokpo.

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Ezechukwu, Chiamaka B. DOB-Y: 1986, Gender: F; Imo State; LGA: Ideato North; Polling Unit: Ezekpherchi Square; Ward: Isiokpo.

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Ezekwoaku, Chinasa F. DOB-Y: 1992; Gender: F; Imo State; LGA: Ideato North; Polling Unit: Ezekpherchi Square; Ward: Isiokpo.

 

Ezeta, Chinyere A. DOB-Y: 1984; Gender: F; Imo State; LGA: Ideato North; Polling Unit: Ezekpherchi Square; Ward: Isiokpo.

Abdu, Bitrus, DOB-Y: 1992; Gender: M; Borno State; LGA:

Chibok; Polling Unit: Kwada; Ward: Kautikari.

Abdullahi, Hamsatu, DOB-Y: 1992; Gender: F; Borno State; LGA: Chibok; Polling Unit: Kwada; Ward: Kautikari.

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Ali, Sunday, DOB-Y: 1991, Gender: M; Borno State; LGA: Chibok; Polling Unit: Kwada; Ward: Kautikari.

 

Amadu, Dauda, DOB-Y: 1991, Gender: M; Borno State; LGA: Chibok; Polling Unit: Kwada; Ward: Kautikari.

 

Speaking against the existence of underage voters in the register, Aisha Yesufu, an activist, questioned the electoral commission for registering children for election in a video.

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“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 is 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 are 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 long 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 urged INEC to conduct a further clean-up of the register and remove all ineligible voters ahead of the general elections.

 

“We need to do better as a nation, everybody should do the right thing wherever they are.

 

“INEC, don’t be unfortunate this election, clean up that register, remove the people you can glaringly see that they are underage,” she added.

 

 

INEC Gives Room For Objection

 

On the voters’ register, the electoral commission gave room for the public to raise an objection to any fault or wrong data seen on the register.

 

The process for raising an objection was noted to be complicated and revealed too much private information about the person raising the objection.

 

To raise an objection, the public is expected to provide the voter’s number and date of birth of doubted voter, 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 licence or passport.

 

The person raising the objection is also required to take a passport photograph.

 

However, it was noted that the person raising the objection, if not a registered voter that INEC has its details, must provide personal information including mobile phone number and residential address.