The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied allegations circulating on social media that it registered underage students as voters in Osun State.
Reacting to a trending video purportedly showing students being registered at the INEC office in Ede North Local Government Area, the commission described the claim as false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Osun State INEC spokesperson, Musa Olurode, said no underage person was registered during the exercise, stressing that INEC officials acted strictly in line with the law.
According to him, while it was true that some students of YTD Grammar School, Ojoro Ede, arrived at the INEC Ede North Local Government Office last Friday in their school uniforms with the intention of registering, they were not allowed to do so.
“The Electoral Officer and other officials on duty, acting in strict compliance with the law, refused them entry into the office premises. Consequently, no underage person was registered,” Olurode said.
He reiterated that under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022, only Nigerian citizens who are 18 years and above are eligible to be registered as voters.
Olurode added that INEC officials have clear directives to enforce the age requirement without exception.
The commission further assured residents of Osun State that it would not engage in, condone, or permit any action capable of undermining the credibility and integrity of the voter registration process.
He said INEC Osun State, under the leadership of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, remains committed to conducting transparent and lawful electoral activities.
INEC also urged members of the public to disregard the viral social media post and rely only on information from official INEC Osun State communication channels for accurate and verified updates on its operations.
