The Independent National Electoral Commission has denied opening 21 voter registration units in the Republic of Niger.
The development is coming in the wake of speculations on social media that the commission had taken the process of registering eligible voters beyond the shores of the country.
One Nche Nwabuike had posted on Facebook on Wednesday, alleging that INEC is operating some illegal registration centres outside the country.
His post generated reactions on social media with those commenting attacking INEC.
When contacted on Thursday, INEC’s National Electoral Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, described the allegation as a figment of the social media user’s imagination.
“Let those who believe him go to Niger Republic and find out whether anything related to the INEC polling unit or voter registration centre was set up.
“I don’t know why the mainstream media are giving ears to such rumour or misinformation. It is bad enough that social media has become the first source of information,” he said.
He added, “How can one unknown individual, who posted that there are 21 registration centres in Niger Republic, raise the concern of people who contacted INEC to determine whether it is true? I won’t even respond to such a claim. It doesn’t make sense. The media should not be part of this, please.
“Why are they not even saying a voter registration centre is set up somewhere in Cameroon or Benin Republic? One individual will just sit somewhere in the comfort of his room and spew nonsense. I am sure if you Google him, you won’t even see his profile online. And Nigerians will just be sharing all over the social media space as if their lives depend on it.”
