INEC removes 749 polling units from palaces shrines, churches, mosques

749 polling units situated in churches, mosques, shrines and palaces have been relocated, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced in Abuja.

After consultation with stakeholders, the Commission has successfully removed 749 Polling Units from inappropriate locations to appropriate public facilities or open spaces in line with our policy to guarantee unencumbered access to Polling Units for all voters,” INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu told a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

“Of this figure, 232 were removed from private properties, 145 royal palaces, 6 Mosques, 21 Churches and 9 Shrines.”

Yakubu said the decision was part of the commission’s effort to ensure “expansion of voter access to Polling Units by converting the Voting Points and Voting Point Settlements to full-fledged Polling Units.

“By doing so, fresh registrants and those seeking transfer will know the new polling units. This will enable them to choose their preferred voting locations on Election Day,” Yakubu said.

“We also promised that details of the new Polling Units would be made available to Nigerians ahead of the resumption of the CVR exercise.”

The nation’s electoral umpire also said nine of them were removed from shrines and several others from religious houses, royal palaces, and private properties.

Recall that at a meeting with federal lawmakers, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu said: “What is the state of voter access to the polling units in Nigeria? The simple answer is that it is in a crisis and has been so for some time. The right to vote is a fundamental democratic right but existing polling units can no longer guarantee the exercise of that right because of the crisis of access to them,” he said.

“The crisis, I must say, affects all parts of the country. We have a quarter of a century — 25 years in this country — without changing the existing polling units.

“They are no longer adequate. They are not conducive, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“What is the manifestation of this crisis to access polling units? The first one is overcrowding. They are prone to electoral violence and this sometimes leads to cancellation of elections and the declaration of some results as inconclusive.

“Some are located in conflict areas, homes of political chieftains, forests and even shrines.”

He suggested that voting points should be converted to polling units and moved to underserved areas.

He said citizens could apply for polling units to be created, but it may take time because of administrative processes.

“Over politicisation of what should be an administrative matter under section 42 of the electoral act undermined previous attempts to find a permanent solution, thus disenfranchising millions of Nigerians,” he said.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it has published the official notice for the Nov. 6, Anambra governorship election in all its offices across the state.

The commission disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja by Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman.

Oyekanmi said that by Thursday activities for party’s primaries and collection of nomination forms from INEC Headquarters for the election were expected to start.

He recalled that on Jan 19, the commission published the timetable and schedule of activities for the state election, outlining 14 activities.

“In continuation of preparations for the election, the commission has today, Wednesday June 9, implemented the first activity on the timetable by publishing the official notice for the election in our offices in Anambra State.

“Tomorrow, Thursday June 10, the next two activities will kick off namely: the commencement of primaries by political parties to democratically nominate their candidates for the election as well as the collection of nomination forms from INEC Headquarters,” Oyekanmi said.

The commission, according to Oyekanmi, reiterates appeal to political parties to conduct credible and rancour-free primaries in compliance with the law and INEC regulations and guidelines.