INEC: New Polling Units To Be Made Public Soon

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said
the new Polling Units will soon be made public to allow eligible
registrants to choose where they wish to register and vote on
Election Day.

It also said that those who wish to replace their lost or
damaged Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) or transfer their
registration from one location to another will be able to do so
after the new locations are disclosed.

INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, in his remarks at the
meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners, hinted that, “our
plan is to conclude the ongoing consultations and the actual work
on the Polling Units in earnest so that the new locations will be
made public for eligible registrants to choose where they wish to
register and vote on Election Day.

“Furthermore, those who wish to replace their lost or damaged
Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), as well as those who are already
registered but who may wish to apply for transfer of their
registration from one location to another, will be able to do so as
provided by law”.

He continued that, “today, we will, among other issues, review
the engagements with stakeholders on the proposed expansion of
voters’ access to Polling Units so far as well as our preparations
for the commencement of the Continuous Registration of Voters
(CVR). The two activities are inter-related.

“As you are also aware, the Commission is committed to deepening
the culture of planning for elections. The current five-year plan
covering the period 2017-2021 expires this year. For this reason, a
Committee involving the participation of some Resident Electoral
Commissioners (RECs) was inaugurated a few weeks ago to review the
Strategic Plan (SP) and the Strategic Programme of Action (SPA) to
cover the next cycle of five years from 2022-2026.

“The Committee is making good progress. Its report should be
submitted by the end of this month to enable the Commission engage
stakeholders for its validation and subsequent implementation. I
want to assure Nigerians that this will be accomplished long before
the expiry of the current plan at the end of this year.

“As we continue to plan for the next General Election, the RECs
have been directed to compile and submit an inventory of all
election materials in order to determine shortfalls and take early
steps to ensure their adequacy and availability. Only a few States
are still outstanding.

“I wish to remind the States that are yet to make their
submissions to do so by the end of this week. This will enable us
to address some of the logistics issues that have become a
recurring decimal in the conduct of elections in the past. The 2023
General Election must be different from all previous elections in
terms of our preparations and readiness.

“I wish to commend the RECs and staff of the Commission for
ensuring that the two elections conducted this year continues to
meet the standard for credible elections. Here I am referring to
the Magama/Rijau Federal Constituency re-run election and the Kafin
Hausa State Constituency bye-election in Niger and Jigawa states
respectively.

“We should in fact strive to do even better in the forthcoming
Ekiti East State Constituency 1 bye-election scheduled for 20th
March, to be followed a week later by the Aba North/Aba South
Federal Constituency bye-election in Abia State holding on 27th
March 2021.

“Similarly, with the recent declaration of vacancy by the Delta
State House of Assembly, I wish to assure the people of Isoko North
State Constituency that the timetable for the bye-election to fill
the vacancy in the State House of Assembly will be released before
the end of this week.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said
the new Polling Units will soon be made public to allow eligible
registrants to choose where they wish to register and vote on
Election Day.

It also said that those who wish to replace their lost or
damaged Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) or transfer their
registration from one location to another will be able to do so
after the new locations are disclosed.

INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, in his remarks at the
meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners, hinted that, “our
plan is to conclude the ongoing consultations and the actual work
on the Polling Units in earnest so that the new locations will be
made public for eligible registrants to choose where they wish to
register and vote on Election Day.

“Furthermore, those who wish to replace their lost or damaged
Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), as well as those who are already
registered but who may wish to apply for transfer of their
registration from one location to another, will be able to do so as
provided by law”.

He continued that, “today, we will, among other issues, review
the engagements with stakeholders on the proposed expansion of
voters’ access to Polling Units so far as well as our preparations
for the commencement of the Continuous Registration of Voters
(CVR). The two activities are inter-related.

“As you are also aware, the Commission is committed to deepening
the culture of planning for elections. The current five-year plan
covering the period 2017-2021 expires this year. For this reason, a
Committee involving the participation of some Resident Electoral
Commissioners (RECs) was inaugurated a few weeks ago to review the
Strategic Plan (SP) and the Strategic Programme of Action (SPA) to
cover the next cycle of five years from 2022-2026.

“The Committee is making good progress. Its report should be
submitted by the end of this month to enable the Commission engage
stakeholders for its validation and subsequent implementation. I
want to assure Nigerians that this will be accomplished long before
the expiry of the current plan at the end of this year.

“As we continue to plan for the next General Election, the RECs
have been directed to compile and submit an inventory of all
election materials in order to determine shortfalls and take early
steps to ensure their adequacy and availability. Only a few States
are still outstanding.

“I wish to remind the States that are yet to make their
submissions to do so by the end of this week. This will enable us
to address some of the logistics issues that have become a
recurring decimal in the conduct of elections in the past. The 2023
General Election must be different from all previous elections in
terms of our preparations and readiness.

“I wish to commend the RECs and staff of the Commission for
ensuring that the two elections conducted this year continues to
meet the standard for credible elections. Here I am referring to
the Magama/Rijau Federal Constituency re-run election and the Kafin
Hausa State Constituency bye-election in Niger and Jigawa states
respectively.

“We should in fact strive to do even better in the forthcoming
Ekiti East State Constituency 1 bye-election scheduled for 20th
March, to be followed a week later by the Aba North/Aba South
Federal Constituency bye-election in Abia State holding on 27th
March 2021.

“Similarly, with the recent declaration of vacancy by the Delta
State House of Assembly, I wish to assure the people of Isoko North
State Constituency that the timetable for the bye-election to fill
the vacancy in the State House of Assembly will be released before
the end of this week.”