TQM report,
Anambra Civil Society Network (ACSONET) a platform for Citizens and Non State Actors have called for wider consultations, inclusiveness and participation of citizens in the ongoing nationwide expansion of polling units being carried out by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Chairman of the Network, Prince Chris Azor who also doubles as the Coordinator, National Coalition On Improved Service Delivery (NACOISED), made the statement during a Stakeholders Forum on Expansion of Voter Access to Polling Units at Professor Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre, Awka.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the occasion said it had put measures in place to ensure greater access to the electoral process in the country.
To this end, the Commission has proposed the creation of 1,112 additional polling units in Anambra State, ahead of the November 6 Gubernatorial election in the area.
The State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, announced this during his presentation to participants at the event.
“The last exercise during which polling units were created in the country was carried out in 1996, when the electoral body was known as NECON.
However, in a bid to decongest the already congested polling units across the country, INEC had in 2007 and 2011 created Baby Polling Units and Voting Points respectively”, he said.
INEC and stakeholders in Anambra State during forum, agreed that such exercise was long overdue in the country.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Anambra State, Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, explained that the expansion of voter access, involved the establishment of more polling units, relocation of polling units not properly located and renaming of polling units with wrong names.
Dr. Orji stressed that the project was aimed at bringing the polling units closer to the people, to ensure greater participation of the the electorate in the electoral process.
He announced that 1,112 voting points would be converted to polling units and added to the 4,608 units existing in Anambra State.
Dr. Orji noted that some of the relocated polling units were located in shrines, private houses and disputed areas and had to be taken to appropriate places, such as schools, halls and squares.
Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, said the programme would strengthen access to voting in the area.
Some of the State Political Party Chairmen, Isaac Onuka of APM, Ndubuisi Nwobu of PDP and Matthias Ameke of ADP, commended the process but called for earlier involvement of the political parties in the exercise to enable them make their inputs.
The Special Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on Political Matters, Chief Ifeatu Obi-Okoye, said such a programme should be carried out regularly.
Also contributing, the Chairman of Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities in Anambra State, Mr. Ugochukwu Okeke, urged INEC to create easy access to help its members to vote during elections.
