INEC: 1 million+ Boko Haram victims can’t vote in 2015 [Boko Haram members nko?]

More than a million Nigerians displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States may not be able to vote in the February’s general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said yesterday.

The only condition that will make them eligible to vote is if the Electoral Act is amended before the elections, the electoral agency added.

Besides, the election results may be challenged in court if such a large number of people is disenfranchised.

The National Assembly returns to plenary today after a vacation to enable members attend party congresses where candidates were picked for all states and local elections.

“Unless the act is amended, the IDPs (internally displaced persons) issue could expose the election to legal challenges by the losing party,” INEC spokesman Kayode Idowu, was quoted by Reuters as saying.

Idowu added: “INEC is hoping that some amendment will happen to the legal framework to make it feasible for IDPs to vote,” Idowu said.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/inec-1m-boko-haram-victims-cant-vote-2015/

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to explore all administrative means to ensure that Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country voted in the 2015 general elections.

A resolution to that effect was passed by the upper legislative chamber, which directed the commission to do everything possible to carry out the responsibility.

The resolution was sequel to a Bill sponsored by Sen. Ali Ndume (PDP-Borno) and presented at plenary.
Pushing a case for the bill, Ndume said that it was intended to ensure that the IDPs, spread across the country as the result of insurgency in the North-East zone of the country, were not prevented from voting during the elections.

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