INEC Relocates 1,112 Polling Units From Shrines, Others In Anambra

There is a furore in Anambra State following the decision of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to relocate 1,112
polling units from shrines, royal fathers’ houses, churches and
houses of political office holders among others in the state.

The Anambra State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr.
Mkpachukwu Orji, disclosed yesterday during a stakeholders’ meeting
on expansion of voters access to polling units in Anambra, held in
Awka, the state capital, that the 1112 polling units would be
relocated to provide legitimacy to the electoral process.

But the announcement has received heavy bashing from the
leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and
the special adviser to the state governor on Political Matters, Mr.
Ifatu Obiokoye.

Orji argued that polling units situated in inappropriate places
hinder electorate’s access to voting during elections.

“Those polling units in such inappropriate places are not good
for our elections. Most times, people see them as personal polling
units. We want to make the polling units accessible to all voters,”
he said.

Orji said that the commission would also increase the number of
polling units in the state from 4,608 to 5,720 to give access to
more voters.

The REC lamented that less than 30 percent of registered voters
in the state cast their votes in the last general election and
called on the stakeholders in the state to mobilise voters to
actively participate in the forthcoming governorship election in
the state.

But reacting, chairman of the Anambra State chapter of the
People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ndubisi Nwobu, and Special
Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on Political Matters, Mr. Ifatu
Obiokoye, berated INEC, saying the decision was taken without
seeking inputs from stakeholders in the state.

They argued that if INEC had consulted them, they would have
made useful inputs since they were active partners in the electoral
process.

INEC has also said it created additional 1832 polling units in
Ogun State as part of the commission’s voter access expansion.

The addition with the already existing 3,210 polling units now
brings the total polling units in the state to 5,042.

The State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof.
Abdulganiy Raji, disclosed this on Monday, in Abeokuta, at a
stakeholders’ meeting.

Similarly, the commission has increased the total number of
polling units in Cross River State to 3281.

This was disclosed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC),
Emmanuel Hart, when he met with election stakeholders in the state
yesterday.

There is a furore in Anambra State following the decision of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to relocate 1,112
polling units from shrines, royal fathers’ houses, churches and
houses of political office holders among others in the state.

The Anambra State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr.
Mkpachukwu Orji, disclosed yesterday during a stakeholders’ meeting
on expansion of voters access to polling units in Anambra, held in
Awka, the state capital, that the 1112 polling units would be
relocated to provide legitimacy to the electoral process.

But the announcement has received heavy bashing from the
leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and
the special adviser to the state governor on Political Matters, Mr.
Ifatu Obiokoye.

Orji argued that polling units situated in inappropriate places
hinder electorate’s access to voting during elections.

“Those polling units in such inappropriate places are not good
for our elections. Most times, people see them as personal polling
units. We want to make the polling units accessible to all voters,”
he said.

Orji said that the commission would also increase the number of
polling units in the state from 4,608 to 5,720 to give access to
more voters.

The REC lamented that less than 30 percent of registered voters
in the state cast their votes in the last general election and
called on the stakeholders in the state to mobilise voters to
actively participate in the forthcoming governorship election in
the state.

But reacting, chairman of the Anambra State chapter of the
People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ndubisi Nwobu, and Special
Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on Political Matters, Mr. Ifatu
Obiokoye, berated INEC, saying the decision was taken without
seeking inputs from stakeholders in the state.

They argued that if INEC had consulted them, they would have
made useful inputs since they were active partners in the electoral
process.

INEC has also said it created additional 1832 polling units in
Ogun State as part of the commission’s voter access expansion.

The addition with the already existing 3,210 polling units now
brings the total polling units in the state to 5,042.

The State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof.
Abdulganiy Raji, disclosed this on Monday, in Abeokuta, at a
stakeholders’ meeting.

Similarly, the commission has increased the total number of
polling units in Cross River State to 3281.

This was disclosed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC),
Emmanuel Hart, when he met with election stakeholders in the state
yesterday.