INEC Denies Creating 30,000 Polling Units

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has described
as unfounded the allegation that it is creating an additional
30,000 polling units nationwide with sole aim of compromising the
2019 general election.

Kola Ologbondiyan, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National
Publicity Secretary, on Friday alleged that INEC was planning to
create 30,000 illegal polling units in some remote areas of the
country.

Online platforms had been awash with allegations that the
commission allotted over 30,000 additional polling units in the six
geopolitical zones ahead of the 2019 election to favour North
Central, North West and North East, which got 6318, 7906, 5291 in
that order.

The alleged allocation also shows that South South got 3087,
South West 4160 while South East got a miserly 1167 polling units.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) reportedly got 1,200 – 33
polling units more than the five states of the South East.

INEC in a statement on Sunday disclaimed the report, saying the
insinuation that it wanted to create 30,000 polling units was
false, misleading and should disregarded.

The statement signed by Rotimi Oyekanmi, chief press secretary
to the INEC chairman, hinted, however, that the commission actually
received 3,789 requests nationwide for the creation of new polling
units.

“What the commission has done is that it has directed its
Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to thoroughly assess and
provide it with information on: new settlements that are not served
or inadequately served by existing polling units; areas with
natural barriers that hinder access to existing polling units;
areas that are distant from existing polling units; and areas
affected by communal and other conflicts that make voting in
existing polling units unsafe for voters. These reports are still
being awaited from the states.

“It is these reports and the information they contain that will
be collated and carefully examined by the commission in order to
determine what changes may be necessary in the current polling
units profile of the country.

“Therefore, the insinuation that the commission intends to
create 30,000 new polling units to compromise the 2019 general
elections is false, misleading, unfounded and should be
disregarded.

“We assure the public that our decisions and actions shall
always be guided by the provisions of the extant laws and our
determination to respond to requests by Nigerians to serve them
better. Even so, this will be done only after full consultation
with all stakeholders.”

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has described
as unfounded the allegation that it is creating an additional
30,000 polling units nationwide with sole aim of compromising the
2019 general election.

Kola Ologbondiyan, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National
Publicity Secretary, on Friday alleged that INEC was planning to
create 30,000 illegal polling units in some remote areas of the
country.

Online platforms had been awash with allegations that the
commission allotted over 30,000 additional polling units in the six
geopolitical zones ahead of the 2019 election to favour North
Central, North West and North East, which got 6318, 7906, 5291 in
that order.

The alleged allocation also shows that South South got 3087,
South West 4160 while South East got a miserly 1167 polling units.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) reportedly got 1,200 – 33
polling units more than the five states of the South East.

INEC in a statement on Sunday disclaimed the report, saying the
insinuation that it wanted to create 30,000 polling units was
false, misleading and should disregarded.

The statement signed by Rotimi Oyekanmi, chief press secretary
to the INEC chairman, hinted, however, that the commission actually
received 3,789 requests nationwide for the creation of new polling
units.

“What the commission has done is that it has directed its
Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to thoroughly assess and
provide it with information on: new settlements that are not served
or inadequately served by existing polling units; areas with
natural barriers that hinder access to existing polling units;
areas that are distant from existing polling units; and areas
affected by communal and other conflicts that make voting in
existing polling units unsafe for voters. These reports are still
being awaited from the states.

“It is these reports and the information they contain that will
be collated and carefully examined by the commission in order to
determine what changes may be necessary in the current polling
units profile of the country.

“Therefore, the insinuation that the commission intends to
create 30,000 new polling units to compromise the 2019 general
elections is false, misleading, unfounded and should be
disregarded.

“We assure the public that our decisions and actions shall
always be guided by the provisions of the extant laws and our
determination to respond to requests by Nigerians to serve them
better. Even so, this will be done only after full consultation
with all stakeholders.”