Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu has said underaged voters would not be allowed to exercise franchise not guaranteed them in the Nigerian Constitution.
He made the declaration yesterday in Abuja at his daily media briefing.
He appealed to eligible voters who sight underaged on the queue, waiting for accreditation to inform the police.
He further warned that those with the evil motive to use underaged to manipulate the process to shelve such a plan.
“There is statutory age for eligibility. If you come across anyone that is apparently underage waiting for accreditation, inform the police. Anyone trying to sponsor underage voters will be arrested. I assure you that we won’t tolerate that.”
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The acting Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Adamu in his opening remarks said his men would be on the ground at polling units to secure the electorate, INEC and election materials.
“Police will be at Polling Units to protect electorate, the INEC staff and election materials. They won’t be armed but we have a tactical unit of the Force that will be patrolling to ensure that the process isn’t disrupted. They will be armed. If you commit thuggery or disrupt voting, you will be arrested and prosecuted. If the result is announced those willing to make trouble we will put them in check. If you have no business with voting and you aren’t an INEC official stay away from voting centres.”
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