TheCable

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded that elections should not hold in Kano and Katsina states until voter register is sanitised.

The party made the call following the allegations of underage voting in Kano state.

Pictures of underage voters trended on social media after the last local government election in Kano.

INEC had initially denied being involved in the election where the pictures were taken, attributing the development to the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission.

But it later set up a panel to probe the issue.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP spokesman, said it took a statement from the party and “concerted outcry” by Nigerians before the Mahmood-led commission “reluctantly”.

“However, INEC has refused to take decisive steps to restore the sanctity of its register, particularly in Kano and Katsina states, but has rather made a puerile explanation of plans to investigate the allegation,” he said.

“As we speak, the credibility of our electoral process under the current INEC is hugely in doubt.

“The nation was last Wednesday terrified by the commission’s director of publicity and voter education, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, who announced that INEC registered minors because its agents were threatened by members of the communities in those states.

“The import of this statement is that INEC under Prof. Yakubu is not firm in its acts and will consequently cave in and accept any form of irregularities once it is put under pressure by members of a voting community.

“Consequently, the PDP demands an immediate review of voters register, particularly in Kano and Katsina; we demand a revalidating the voters register to eliminate all the minors and insist that no election must hold in these states until the register is sanitised.

“Nigerians have completely lost confidence in INEC under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and we urge him to take the path of honour and do the needful before it becomes too late.”