Creation Of Additional Polling Units: We've Good Intentions- INEC

The proposed creation of additional 30,000 polling units across the country by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) was done with good intention.

INEC said the creation of the new polling units was in order to make it easier for voters to cast their votes and avoid unnecessary waste of time at the polling centres.

The INEC commissioner in-charge of South-West, Professor Lai Olurode who spoke at a media interaction organised by Osun State chapter of Association of Veteran Journalists in Osogbo however said the electoral body is ready to review the decision if it becomes imperative.

According to him, the commission is collating opinions from stakeholders and would take the right decision as soon as it completes its findings.

He noted that the proposal was criticised because the commission did not make necessary consultation before the step was taken.

“We are aware of the criticism on the creation of the 30,000 additional polling units. We don’t want anything that would tarnish our reputation. The intention was good and it was meant to reduce the stress people go through during the election.

“We took the step when we realised that certain polling units had as much as 3,000 voters and we felt that it would amount to wasting time at the polling centres on the day of election as a result of large number of voters in the polling centres and the long queues. We are only concerned and ensuring free and fair elections”.

Also speaking on the issue of use of security during elections, Olurode said Nigeria is not ripe to hold elections without adequate security measures. He added that it was necessary to even increase the involvement of the security in the election, especially the police.

He reiterated that masked security men would not be allowed to partake in election duties again. He said the commission would ensure that security men are friendly with electorate.

Olurode urged members of the public to support and encourage INEC and security agencies. He also said there was no pressure on INEC from presidency.

SOURCE: LEADERSHIP

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