Former Oyo State Deputy Governor Faults Re-Designation of Polling Units

A former Deputy Governor and Oyo State Coordinator, Tinubu/Shettima Grassroot Independent Campaign Council (TSGICC), Rauf Olaniyan, has faulted the re-assignment of voters to other polling units without prior notice.

Olaniyan, who spoke, on Saturday, after casting his vote at Ward 9, Unit 6, Igboho, in the Oorelope Local Government Area of the south western state, said, on getting to the polling unit, he was surprised to hear many voters lamenting that they could not find their names in their assigned polling units.

He said the situation forced many people to start going from one polling unit to another in search of their names on the published voters register.

Olaniyan, a former deputy to Governor Seyi Makinde, said many voters who could not find their names within reach were forced to drop their zeal and interest in voting in the election.

He said, if INEC had informed the voters earlier of the creation of additional polling units, many voters would have been better prepared to locate where they would cast their votes.

Olaniyan explained that the situation where people had to go more than 10km before locating their polling units may not be good enough for the elections.

He commended INEC for the introduction and use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System which he said has helped save a lot of time for people who are exercising their franchise.

Olaniyan said: “The BVAS machine is a good development. Aside from its initial hiccups at some polling units, it didn’t give much issue at my polling unit. Infact, I spent less than three minutes from accreditations to voting. It was seamless. Accreditation process didn’t take time like it use to. 

“As good as the initiative is, many people lost interest in voting when were they moved from their traditional polling units to nearby units and could still not find their names. Many were discouraged from voting,” he lamented.

He, however, commended the people for the large turnout and peaceful conduct at the election, noting that it was a show of huge interest in the electioneering process.