ALLEGATION OF UNDERAGE REGISTRATION IN EDE NORTH LGA: INEC PROVIDES FURTHER CLARIFICATION

ALLEGATION OF UNDERAGE REGISTRATION IN EDE NORTH LGA: INEC PROVIDES FURTHER CLARIFICATION

Following its earlier press release dated 9th February, 2026 on the allegation of registration of underage persons at the INEC Local Government Office in Ede North, Osun State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Osun State, hereby provides further clarification in the interest of transparency and public confidence.

As part of its internal verification process, a fact-finding team from INEC Osun State visited YTD Grammar School, Ojoro, Ede, where the affected students were reported to have been mobilized from. The team met with the Vice Principal of the school while the Principal was not on seat. During the engagement, the Vice Principal confirmed that the students involved were indeed students of the school, but stated that the school authorities were initially unaware of the incident until they became aware of the circulating Facebook post.

The Vice Principal expressed regret over the incident and assured the Commission that appropriate measures have been put in place to prevent any recurrence. He further informed the INEC team that the matter has been formally reported to the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) Osun State and the Osun State Ministry of Education for necessary administrative action.

According to the release by INEC Osun State Public Affairs Officer Musa Olurode signed for the Hon. Resident Electoral Commissioner, the INEC team, acting in line with the Commission’s standard operating procedures, advised the school management on the legal requirements and implications relating to voter registration, emphasizing that only Nigerian citizens who have attained the age of 18 years are eligible to be registered as voters, as provided for in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022. The team further stressed that any future infraction will be addressed strictly in accordance with extant laws and INEC guidelines.

INEC wishes to reassure the good people of Osun State that the Commission in the State, under the leadership of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, will not condone any act capable of undermining the integrity, credibility, and transparency of the voter registration process. The Commission remains firm in enforcing all constitutional and statutory provisions governing voter registration.

The Commission therefore urges members of the public to disregard misleading narratives surrounding the incident and to rely solely on information from official INEC Osun State communication channels for accurate and verified updates.

INEC also calls on parents, guardians, school authorities, community leaders, and other stakeholders to support the Commission by sensitizing young persons on the legal age requirement for voter registration, in order to avoid actions that may constitute a breach of the law.

INEC remains committed to the discharge of its statutory responsibilities with professionalism, transparency, impartiality, and strict adherence to the law.