The Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC)
in Niger State, on Monday,
said it was illegal for the
Bida community to stop the
man with 86 wives, Alhaji
Abubakar Maasaba, and
members of his family from
registering as voters
during the just concluded
voter registration.
Though Alhaji Maasaba was
said to have been
registered at the Maasaba
ward registration area, the
community was reported to
have stopped his wives,
children and other members
of his family, numbering
over 4,900 from putting
down their names on the
voter register.
It was said that the
community denied the family
their rights because they
would influence the outcome
of the elections in the ward
if they were allowed to
register. But INEC Resident Electoral
Commissioner (REC) in the
state, Dr Emmanuel
Onucheyo, told newsmen in
his office that the action of
the community was “ totally
illegal ” as people could
register wherever they
wanted to vote.
While saying that the
problem was not that of
INEC because “ nobody
reported to us, ” Onucheyo
said the gates to the polling
stations
had already been
closed to the family since
they did not register in the
period they were supposed
to register.
“ They should make formal
complaints but for now the
issue is closed, ” Onucheyo
said, adding that if they
won their protest, which should be directed to the
national headquarters of
the commission, “ I will obey
any directive from Abuja. ”