The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has exonerated itself from the Kano State local government election held on Saturday, which was characterised by incidents of underage voting.

Videos and photos of children thumb-printing ballot papers and stuffing ballot boxes while chanting ‘APC’ went viral on the social media on Saturday and Sunday, prompting INEC to issue a disclaimer on Tuesday.

“The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been drawn to videos and pictures purportedly showing some underage thumb printing ballot papers in a recent election. These images have been circulating online since Saturday,” read a statement signed by Oluwole Osaze Uzzi, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity.

“The Commission wishes to inform the public that the images do not relate in any way to any election organised, conducted or superintended by INEC.

“As far as the Commission can ascertain, they relate to a Local Government election conducted at the weekend, and over which we have no legal control or responsibility whatsoever.

“While the Commission remains resolute in our commitment to sanitize the nation’s electoral process and deliver free, fair and credible elections, we cannot be held directly or vicariously liable for an exercise outside our legal purview.

“It should be pointed out here that Local Government elections are exclusively the constitutional responsibility of the respective State Electoral Commissions, who are in no way under the control or supervision of INEC.”

In the election, the APC won in all the local government areas of the state.

Below is one of the video clips showing children voting during the election.

Video Of Underaged Children Voting In Kano LGA Election pic.twitter.com/nt7po7oSjT

— SubDeliveryTwit (@SubDeliveryTwit) February 13, 2018