TheCable

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda Resource Centre (HEDA) has requested a copy of the report by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) panel on the investigation of alleged underage voting in Kano state local government area election.

There was an outrage after images of underage voters were circulated on social media after the election, and in February, INEC set up a committee to probe allegations of underage voting in the state.

“A national commissioner will lead a team including technical staff drawn from voter registry, ICT and electoral operations departments for an immediate and comprehensive investigation,” Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the electoral body, had said.

“We will share the findings with Nigerians,” he added.

INEC later addressed a press conference but refused to make the report public.

HEDA, on Wednesday, said it has used the freedom of information act (FoI) to request for INEC’s report.

“In view of the recent media outcry over the refusal of the Commission to fully reveal the findings of the panel set up by the Commission to investigate allegations of underage voting during the February council polls in Kano state, we are compelled to humbly request that your good office furnish us with the said report in line with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act,” Olanrewaju Suraju, chairman of the group wrote in the letter.

He added that the report would aid the investigations by civil society into the issues arising from the said elections.