NIN Not Mandatory for Voter Register, Says INEC

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that
the National Identification Number (NIN) is not mandatory for voter
registration.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made the clarification to
journalists in Abuja on Thursday, NAN reports.
Yakubu said that NIN was only a means of identification for registration
as listed in the Electoral Act.
“I want to make this important clarification. NIN is not going to be
made mandatory for voter registration.
“This is for a simple reason that we are operating on basis of the law
establishing INEC.
“Section 10 of the Electoral Act lists identifications to be presented by
prospective registrants for the purpose of voter registration to include
birth certificate, national passport and national identity card.
“We cannot single NIN out and make it mandatory. All the other
requirements are of the law and we must apply the law appropriately.
“If you have your national ID card, we will register you on presentation
of the card but we will not make it a mandatory means of identification
for the exercise.
“Since the law, the electoral act does not make it mandatory, it is only
one of the many means of identification required,” Yakubu said.