The Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC, has said it welcomes the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to probe alleged incident of underage voting during the conduct of the February 10 local government election in the state.
Social media had become flooded with video footage and images of underage children casting votes allegedly during the local council polls, situation that prompted the Chairman of the INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, to announce plans to investigate the allegations.
However, in a statement by the chairman of KANSIEC, Garba Sheka, in Kano, on Sunday, the state electoral body restated its stance that the election was adjudged to be the most peaceful in the history of the state.
Mr Sheka, a professor, said KANSIEC is willing to accord full cooperation to the team of investigators to ascertain the veracity of the allegation made in respect of underage voting during the conduct of the election.
The statement read in part: “The federal electoral empire’s move was hinged on video footages that went viral on the social media, allegedly showing some under-aged participating in the local council election, last weekend.
“While we hail the INEC’s decision to investigate the allegation, we want to restate our stand that the election, which was supervised by independent monitors (Civil Society Organisations) is adjudged most peaceful in the history of Kano state.
“We would like to express our willingness to accord full cooperation to the team of investigators to ascertain the veracity of the allegation made in respect of underage voting during the conduct of the election.
“We are also confident that the outcome of the investigation will vindicate us and strengthen the confidence of the public in KANSIEC to conduct free and fair local government election,” Mr Sheka emphasised.
