The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Universities Commission (NUC) must bar universities from scheduling examinations during the election period, to ensure that millions of students in various institutions in the country are not prevented from participating in the polls slated for February and March.
Yiaga Africa, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), relying on INEC data which indicates that over 26 million registered voters in the country’s voter register were students, urged the two institutions to also play a vital role in ensuring wholesome participation in the electoral process.
Stressing that the intervention of INEC and the NUC would enable more students to exercise their rights to vote, the group wrote: “Dear @inecnigeria, can you engage the National Universities Commission to request universities to refrain from scheduling examinations during the elections? This will enable students who represent the highest percentage of voters to exercise their right to vote,” YIAGA noted in a statement posted via its official Twitter handle, @YIAGA
