Voter registration: NYSC may exclude some tertiary institutions

The Independent National Electoral Commission may not employ graduating students of state-owned higher institutions for the forthcoming voter registration.


Investigations in Abuja on Monday by THE PUNCH showed that INEC had directed resident electoral commissioners to supplement shortfall in the National Youth Service Corps members with graduating students of federal tertiary institutions.

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It was learnt that the directive was part of measures to ensure that state governors did not influence the voter registration.


INEC had said that 360,000 NYSC members would be needed by the commission for the voter registration.


The commission had also said that if it could not get 360,000 NYSC members, final year students of tertiary institutions would be employed to supplement them.


It was gathered that INEC offices in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory had already got the lists of corps members from the NYSC in the respective states and the FCT.


Investigations showed that the state INEC offices had also written federal tertiary institutions asking for the list of graduating students.


A top official of INEC, who pleaded anonymity because he was not allowed to speak to journalist, said, “The commission reasons that most state universities admit students from their areas and there is the possibility that they will be close to state governments.


“Corps members will be employed for voter registration. In states, where graduating students will be included, such students will be from tertiary institutions and non-indigenes of states.”


When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, declined to categorically confirm the exclusion of graduating students of state tertiary institutions. He however, said, “The NYSC that the commission is getting the corps members from is a federal institution. It is likely that recruitment of graduating students would be limited to federal higher institutions.”


Explaining the modality for recruiting ad-hoc staff for the voter registration, Idowu said that if there was any shortfall after NYSC members had been recruited, the number needed would be announced.