The controversial Child Marriage Bill before the Senate almost caused a Senator representing Ondo Central Senatorial District, Dr. Ayo Akinyelure, his seat in the upper legislative chamber a women from the senatorial district called for his recall for voting in support of the bill.

The embattled Senator, who was summoned from Abuja to a stakeholders meeting to explain why he voted in support of girls early marriage, however, admitted publicly at the Adegbemile Hall, venue of the meeting, in Akure, where the people from his district converged, that he voted in error.

“I’m so sorry I voted in error through the electronic voting.  It was a mistake, not deliberate; I wanted to vote against the bill because all the while I had been working against the bill, but when it was time to vote, I mistakenly pressed ‘yes’ instead of pressing ‘no’, I’m so sorry, my people”.

Akinyelure, who is popularly known as “Allover” could not control his emotion as he wept profusely while explaining the circumstances that led to his voting in support of the controversial bill and asked for forgiveness from the audience who were mainly women.

According to him, the error was due to a misinterpretation of the words in the electronic voting system, which was difficult to understand.

“Nobody is above human error.  What happened has made me wiser because nobody is perfect except God.  I will like to make the following clarification on the subject matter, to correct the wrong allegations of voting in favour of underage marriage as widely reported in national dailies.

“Before the issue occurred, what the Senate considered for determination under the review of Nigerian Constitution was renunciation of citizenship under the constitution contained under Section 29 (4b), which provides that, “any woman who married shall be deemed to be a full age”.  It is worthy of note that full age has been defined under section 29 (4a) to mean “the age of 18 years and above”.

The question before the Senate for determination therefore, was whether the clause which provides that, “a married woman is deemed to be of full age to renounce her citizenship of Federal Republic of Nigeria should be retained or be deleted.  Section 29 (1) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria provides that “Any Citizen of Nigeria of full age, who wishes to renounce his citizenship shall make a declaration in the prescribed manner for the renunciation.

“The question before the Senate for which I voted in favour was that whether a married woman is deemed to be of full age to renounce her Nigerian Citizenship”.