INEC Osun Denies Underage Voter Registration Allegation
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria’s Osun State has forcefully denied viral social media claims that underage individuals were registered as voters in Ede North Local Government Area.
The allegation, circulating on Facebook, specifically claimed that schoolchildren in uniform were processed at the INEC office in Ede North on Friday, February 6, 2026. In a formal statement issued on Monday in Osogbo, INEC Osun categorically described the claim as “false and misleading.”
According to the statement signed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, and disseminated by Public Affairs Officer Musa Olurode, an incident did occur at the Ede North office on the stated date. However, the Commission provided a different account. INEC confirmed that a group of students from YTD Grammar School, Ojoro, Ede, arrived at the registration centre wearing their school uniforms with the intention to register.
The electoral body stated that its officials on duty, in strict compliance with existing laws, denied the students entry into the premises. “The Electoral Officer and other officials, acting in strict compliance with the law, refused them entry into the office premises. Consequently, no underage person was registered,” the statement clarified.
INEC reiterated the constitutional and legal threshold for voter registration in Nigeria. “Only Nigerian citizens who have attained the age of 18 years are eligible for voter registration, in accordance with the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the Electoral Act, 2022,” the statement emphasized. It added that all field officials across Osun State have received clear directives to enforce this age requirement without exception.
The Commission assured residents that under the leadership of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Agboke, it would not “engage in, condone or permit any action capable of compromising the credibility and integrity of the voter registration process.”
INEC urged the public to disregard the social media post and rely solely on information from its official communication channels for accurate updates on the voter registration exercise. The electoral umpire also called on parents, school authorities, and community leaders to educate young people on the legal requirements for voter registration to prevent future misunderstandings.
This incident highlights the persistent challenges electoral management bodies face in combating misinformation, particularly regarding voter eligibility, in the digital age. INEC’s prompt and detailed rebuttal underscores its procedural protocols aimed at maintaining the sanctity of the voter register ahead of future electoral cycles.
