Kano INEC rule out underage voting as 19 women vie for NASS seats

As Nigerians go to poll, officials of the independent national electoral commission (INEC) have put in place measures aimed at curtailing the reoccurrence of underaged voting in Kano state.

INEC head of voter education and publicity in the state, Garba Dauda Mohammed explained that INEC officials, in conjunction with security agents have been directed to be on the lookout for persons below 18-year-old, who may attempt to cast ballots during the elections.

Mohammed, who said that INEC has cancelled out underaged voters from its register, noted that the decision was in line with the recommendation of a probe panel instituted by INEC.

He disclosed that the panel after probing discovered that underaged persons voted during local council elections held in Kano about two years ago.

On the distribution of materials to polling centres, the INEC official disclosed that INEC is working in conjunction with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), to ensure the availability of both sensitive and non-sensitive election materials to polling centres before votings begin by 8:00 a.m on Saturday.

He disclosed that 86 Senatorial candidates are vying for 3 Senatorial seats on the platform of different political parties. Three of the Senatorial candidates are women. Also, 16 women are also amongst 471 candidates vying for 24 available House of Representatives seats in the state.

Mohammed added that there are 5, 457,747 electorates on the voters register in Kano state, who will rely on the services of 11,900 card readers and 51,000 adhoc INEC staff during the elections in Kano.