The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is creating 770 polling units in Gombe State.
This is in addition to the already existing 2,218 units, thereby bringing the total polling units in the state to 2, 988.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Gombe on the Expansion of Voter Access to polling units, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Umar Ibrahim, said the number represented a 35% increase to the number of polling units in the state.
Alhaji Umar said the commission had embarked on study and review of its internal and external systems, to improve on voter experience and make the conduct of future electoral activities seamless.
He said; “the Expansion of voter access to polling units programme paid priority attention to new settlements, un-served/underserved areas, areas with geographical difficulties terrains and places with communal disharmony.”
According to him, the objectives of the programme is to sustain a steady improvement on the quality of access to electoral services.
It is also to improve health and safety conditions at polling units during elections, especially now in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as address the declining voter turn-out at elections due to lack of access.
The Commissioner said that the objectives compelled the need to expand access to polling units.
He said that could be achieved through the conversion of existing voting points to full units and where necessary, relocate new and existing units to places where they are closer or more accessible to voters and the commission.
Alhaji Umar said records had shown that the current polling unit structure used by the commission was created in 1996, which had subjected stakeholders to various challenging conditions, affecting the health and safety of voters and election officers alike.
“Some of these challenges, to mention but a few, include congestion at polling unit due to growth in voters population, long distance between polling unit location, which affect voter turnout as voters in some locations often trek long distance to cast their votes, and in recent times, the demand to comply with health and safety protocols of Covid-19.
“These challenges have negative consequences on voters turn-out as well as other stakeholders who have a role at improving the quality of our polls,” Alhaji Umar explained.
He said those conditions represented an intense and difficult imbalance between voter expectations and the hurdle the commission had to cross to provide a safe and friendly voting atmosphere.
According to Alhaji Umar, the Expansion of Access to Polling Unit Programme worked on the premium of lower and upper threshold of 500 to 750 voters per unit.
Alhaji Umar announced that the commission planned to roll out the Continous Voter Registration early next month.
He urged stakeholders to take advantage of the upcoming Continous Voter Registration to improve informed and lawful participation in the electoral process.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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