Nigerian Lawmakers recommends voting right for married underage girls to INEC

The National Assembly joint committee has recommended to the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) voting right for married underage girls to the electoral commission.

According to LIB, the recommendation was made by the national assembly joint panel to the technical committee who are to work on the new electoral act proposed by the federal lawmakers.

Although, Nigerian Constitution currently places the eligibility age for voting at 18

However, two weeks ago, Chairman of the senate committee In INEC, Kabiru Gaya in Abuja during the technical committee inauguration did said that the recommendation is a unanimous decision made by the joint panel.

Gaya’s words

“The joint committee has proposed that if a lady who is not up to 18
years is married, she should be considered to be mature enough and be
eligible to vote.”

INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu admits the law recognises 18 as marriageable age and contitutional. 

Meanwhile, Aisha Dukku, chairperson of the house of representatives committee
on INEC said the recommendation cannot be thrown out because it was
suggested by stakeholders at the public hearing.

Dukku words; 

“It is already in the electoral act amendments submitted in the last assembly, so it cannot be thrown away just like that. 

“We should look at it and come up with something instead of throwing
it away. It is not from us but from the stakeholders on the day of the
public hearing held in the 8th assembly.”