INEC cancels polling units in palaces, religious worship centres

Creates extra 4,861 units in Lagos
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed its readiness to create 4,861 additional polling units in Lagos State, saying that polling units will no longer be sited in private compounds, royal palaces, religious worship centres, among others.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos State, Sam Olumekun, who disclosed this, yesterday, at a stakeholders’ meeting, said the newly-approved polling units would provide unhindered access to citizens to exercise their fundamental rights to vote.

He said: “Consequently, polling units largely shape citizens’ confidence in the electoral process and similarly determine the level of their participation or apathy, as well as security and safety during elections.

“The idea is equally to engender an environment that would provide a good voter experience in each polling unit.”

He added that the location of the polling units for the conduct of the election would be restricted to public places preferable to those that are centrally located and accessible.

Also speaking at the meeting, Lagos State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tunde Balogun; state Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Adesina James, and representative of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Waheed Ishola, commended INEC for the creation of additional polling units, noting that it will enhance voter participation.