Okay, some folks are throwing around allegations (WITHOUT EVIDENCE) about the REGIONAL NUMBERS of eligible voters and alleging that there are malpractices, including “UNDER-AGED VOTERS largely in the North”, that skew the numbers to favour the North. We have seen many "news sites" report under-aged voters registered (using pictures from 2011) and brandishing outlandish figures (6.1m). In fact a very good friend of mine said that the number of under-aged voters in the NW and NE is more than the 9 million eligible voters in the SS!! LOL!

First of all, I don’t doubt that there will be cases of under-aged voting (and other malpractices) not just in the North, but all parts of the country. However, Jega has said and demonstrated that INEC is implementing various techniques and processes to reduce or eliminate them. So people complaining about under-aged voters (with shady sources), regional figures, card readers and all what not are only preparing grounds to cry foul when they lose, unless they can provide CREDIBLE PROOF. I have a lot of confidence in Jega’s willingness to make this a credible election!

Back to the REGIONAL NUMBERS. The first question you should ask is, do they make sense? Think about it? Isn’t it true that the North has consistently had a slightly higher population than the south (in most of the census exercises carried out since the mid-twentieth century?) Isn’t it true that if it wasn’t for the densely populated commercial center, Lagos, this difference would have been more substantial? Isn’t it also true that there is traditionally more voter apathy in the south, thus reducing the number of eligible voters? Can we pretend that we don’t know these things?

But the most important question you should ask yourself is “How do these VOTER POPULATION figures compare with ACTUAL POPULATION?” For instance, if the % actual population of the SE was 20% and its %voter population is 40%, you should question it, yeah? I did a quick check comparing with the 2006 census. You can argue that the census was not perfect. True. But comparing the 2 sets of data (carried out independently) should help spot discrepancies, if there are any. Basic audit procedure. So here we go;

Region (%VOTER pop.) (%ACTUAL pop. (2006 census))
NW: (26%) (25.56%)
NE: (15%) (13.55%)
NC: (16%) (13.46%)
SW: (19%) (19.65%)
SE: (10%) (11.70%)
SS: (14%) (15.01%)

You don’t need a statistician to observe the high similarities between these figures (with a couple almost spot on!) The regions with the lowest similarity are NE and NC and these even have LOWER %VOTER POP. So much for a ploy to INCREASE the Northern voter pop. eh?

How about the states. How do they compare? These are the states with the top and bottom VOTER and ACTUAL population
Voter pop. Actual pop.
1. Lagos Kano
2. Kano Lagos
3. Kaduna Kaduna
4. Katsina Katsina

34. Ebonyi Ebonyi
35. FCT Nassarawa
36. Ekiti Bayelsa
37. Bayelsa FCT

Again, almost spot on! Unless you think there was a grand scheme to get these similarities, dating back to decades of previous censors (and you provide credible evidence to that effect), then this correlation shows that THE FIGURES MAKE SENSE!!

When they bring up these arguments (and they will bring up more, especially after the polls), show them this and until they bring concrete proof to show otherwise, know that it is just a cry from people facing defeat and living in denial.

Finally, the very important reason this needs to be out there is that rumours like this flying around are what incite violence, when people feel cheated. If you feel there is a manipulation to favour region, you have to be VERY SURE your allegations are not founded and LIES. Regional/ethnic conflicts are easily ignited by the slightest things, so we have to be careful.

Sources: http://www.population.gov.ng/
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/state-by-state-of-eligible-voters/199342/
https://www.nairaland.com/1959081/nigerias-registered-voters-states-geopolitical

Typing...

Everyone with a PVC in that region is above18

Hmm. . nice article. . this is well researched and worth being on the front page. . lalasticlala

So many people keep bringing up excuses when they know they will lose.

They are claiming under-aged voters have been registered by to vote for the APC. lol. . meanwhile the same under-aged voters voted for Yaradua, GEJ, Obj. .lol.

cc: Gbawe, egift, tp10

This is the most silly and stupid article i have read in recent times,you ended up repeating thesame old gibberish that clowns like you spew all over.Right now i will try through my friends on ground in some Northern states,to bring photos of large numbers of under-age voters in the North on saturday during the election.
Any northerner or southerner living in the North knows what am talking about....save yourself those dirty stage managed statistics you are blandishing.As for Jega,he is a disgrace to humanity but victory will still come our way.Vote wisely,vote GEJ.

AustineE1:
This is the most silly and stupid article i have read in recent times,you ended up repeating thesame old gibberish that clowns like you spew all over.Right now i will try through my friends on ground in some Northern states,to bring photos of large numbers of under-age voters in the North on saturday during the election.
Any northerner or southerner living in the North knows what am talking about....save yourself those dirty stage managed statistics you are blandishing.As for Jega,he is a disgrace to humanity but victory will still come our way.Vote wisely,vote GEJ.

Typical GEJite! You just come and spew incoherent rant.
Why? Why are you all like this? Apart from barcanista sometimes most of you don't ever write logically. It's okay to be wrong but at least be logical!

Did you read the article at all? read, comprehend and make sense next time!

AustineE1:
This is the most silly and stupid article i have read in recent times,you ended up repeating thesame old gibberish that clowns like you spew all over.Right now i will try through my friends on ground in some Northern states,to bring photos of large numbers of under-age voters in the North on saturday during the election.
Any northerner or southerner living in the North knows what am talking about....save yourself those dirty stage managed statistics you are blandishing.As for Jega,he is a disgrace to humanity but victory will still come our way.Vote wisely,vote GEJ.

Okay I struggle to understand your argument. I just presented verifiable facts (with links) and you call it stage managed??!!
I am not saying there are no child voters. I am saying from a simple statistical analysis, if it occurs, them it occurs across board and it's not significant at least. Especially as Jega has demonstrated that processes and checks are in place to curb it.
You are welcome to send pictures of these "large numbers of under-aged voters) as long as they are verifiable. But that is not to say it doesn't happen elsewhere as well