Why INEC removed polling units from shrines, palaces, mosques, other odd places
Nine shrines were among the polling places cancelled by Independent National Electoral Commission.
Other odd locations where the Nigerian election body removed polling units include mosques and churches across the country.
INEC says it removed the polling units due to “distance, difficult terrain, congestion, communal conflict, new settlements and general insecurity.”
Inec is introducing reforms into the commission ahead of the 2023 general election and future elections – creation of new polling units is one of the reforms.
National Chairman of Inec, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu revealed this during the announcement of new 56,872 polling units.
According to Yakubu in the meeting he held with Resident Electoral Commissioners in Abuja ahead of the restart of Nationwide Continuous voter registration exercise, “we convert 56,872 Voting Points and Voting Point Settlements and added to the existing 119,974 Polling Units.
“Consequently, the Commission is glad to report that 25 years since the creation of the current Polling Units in 1996, Nigeria now has 176,846 full-fledged Polling Units.
“Similarly, after consultation with stakeholders, the Commission has successfully removed 749 Polling Units from inappropriate locations to appropriate public facilities or open spaces.
“Of this figure we removed 232 from private properties, 145 royal palaces, 6 Mosques, 21 Churches and 9 Shrines. We relocated the remaining 336 Polling Units for various reasons including distance, difficult terrain, congestion, communal conflict, new settlements and general insecurity.”
Inec fixes dates for Ekiti, Osun governorship elections
The Independent National Electoral Commission also announced dates to conduct governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States.
Inec Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu says the early announcement of the date is to enable every body start preparation early.
“In keeping with our policy of announcing the dates of elections in advance to enable early and effective preparations by all concerned, the Commission has approved the Ekiti State Governorship election to hold on Saturday, June 18, 2022, while the Osun State Governorship election will hold one month later on Saturday, July 16, 2022,” Mahmood said.
The Inec boss also said the commission has began implementing activities lined up for the Anambra State Governorship election which will take place later in November this year.
