x

Underage Married Girls won’t Vote, Says Senator Gaya

According to Gaya, the ongoing amendment to the Electoral Act No 6 of 2010 would not confer voting right on underage married girls, referred to as child-wives.

The Senate committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected a suggestion that underage married girls should have the right to vote.

According to Gaya, the ongoing amendment to the Electoral Act No 6 of 2010 would not confer voting right on underage married girls, referred to as child-wives.

He said the issue raised a lot of dust when it was presented in a memorandum submitted to a technical committee set up on the reforms.

He said someone had made the suggestion that underage married girls should be allowed to vote and this was dismissed with justifiable reasons.

“One of the people who came to the public hearing submitted the memorandum, and argued that the word underage was not his, but that any woman or man that is married should be considered as an adult.

“That was his reason. Our own resolve is that if a woman is at the age of 16 and she gets married, she should not be allowed to vote.

“Generally, there was a lot of noise about it. It was in a memorandum submitted by a group of people and they have their rights as Nigerians.

“But when we came to the committee, we discussed a lot on that and at the end of the day, we felt we could not go along with that suggestion and it was dropped,’’ he said.

Gaya said there was another suggestion not to hold elections on Saturdays as some faithful observe the day as their holy day.

He added that the same argument would be made if elections were fixed for Fridays or Sundays.

“If we move elections to Fridays, some people will say it is their worship day; if we move it to Sundays, some other people will say it is also their worship day.

“So, that suggestion was also thrown out,’’ Gaya said.

Hot this week

PCRC Zone 4 Trains Members on Community Policing in Lafia

By Leo Zwanke, LafiaThe Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC),...

Nigeria@65: Shendam Council Chairman Urges Youths to Embrace Technology, Innovation

By Israel Adamu, JosThe Chairman of Shendam Local Government...

Bayelsa Media Awards Gets Major Boost as Gov. Diri Endows Fourth Category

By Amgbare Ekaunkumo, YenagoaBayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri,...

Bayelsa Media Awards Gets Major Boost as Gov. Diri Endows Fourth Category

By Amgbare Ekaunkumo, YenagoaBayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri,...

UIO Urges FG to Enforce Safety Standards in Inland Waterways Transportation

By Noah Ocheni, LokojaThe Ukomu Igala Organisation (UIO) has...

Coalition Praises Tinubu’s Reforms, Hails Tunji-Ojo’s Role in National Transformation

By Israel Adamu, JosA coalition of civil rights organizations...

Tinubu Approves 100Km Stretch of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Through Edo State

Umahi praises Gov. Okpebholo, contractor CBC for infrastructure effortsBy...

North Central Development Commission Pledges Transparency in ₦140bn Budget as NASS Reviews Estimates

By Israel Adamu, JosThe North Central Development Commission (NCDC)...

Zulum Approves Hospital, Water Facilities, Security Measures for Violence-Hit Kirawa Community

By Achadu Gabriel, KadunaBorno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara...

Senator Lalong Chairs UNIJOS Alumni Lecture, Calls for Safeguards in Justice Delivery in Digital Age

Senator Simon Bako Lalong, representing Plateau South Senatorial District...

Amnesty International Urges FG to Cut Political Spending, Prioritize Economic Diversification

By Noah Ocheni, LokojaAmnesty International has called on the...

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img