Benin – Stakeholders in Edo on Friday raised concerns about creation of 1,892 additional polling units by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state.
The stakeholders raised these concerns during a meeting organised by INEC on the expansion of voter access to polling units in Benin.
Mr Anthony Aziegbemi, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, commended INEC on the proposed creation of additional polling units in the state.
Aziegbemi, however, said that some people might be taken away to polling units that were not close to their homes
“I do not want a situation where you want to solve a problem but create another.
“In as much as we support the expansion, the movement of people from one polling unit to another is an issue for us,” he said.
Retired Col. David Imuse, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Committee Chairman in the state, also expressed fears that the action would lead to disenfranchisement of some people.
“Will INEC by this arrangement now deny those who are up to 18 years voter registration because the polling units nearest to them are full?
“(This is) because they will want to register in the polling units nearest to them.”
Also speaking, Chairman of Zenith Labour Party, Bishop Akhalamhe, said INEC lacked the manpower to supervise the polling units in the past.
“Creating additional polling units will mean engaging more manpower.
“I was in Ambrose Alli University (AAU) recently where I discovered that the students had their SUG election electronically from the comfort of their homes and hostels to avoid crisis.
“So I ask, why can’t Nigeria do the same instead of embarking on polling units’ creation,” he said.
Alhaji Razak Ojeifo III, the Onojie of Ewu, expressed dismay that INEC did not consult with his community before embarking on the exercise.
According to the traditional ruler, INEC is deliberately forcing its decision down our throat and expecting us to come here and accept it.
Mrs Ann Ojugo, Chairperson of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), appealed to INEC to redesign voting platforms to enable PWDs to cast their votes effectively.
In his response, Mr Johnson Alalibo, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), said that INEC had consulted with various community leaders during the mapping process of the polling units.
“I can assure you that Edo will not be shortchanged. The only thing we cannot do is move polling units from one local government to another
“Edo expansion will be one of the best because there will be no problem. We did not allow anybody to influence us.
“There is objectivity and sincerity in the process,” he said.
According to the REC, I want you to encourage your children and others who have come of age to go out and register when the continuous voter registration begins.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Alalibo had during the stakeholders meeting announced that it had concluded plans to create I,892 polling units in the state.
He noted that the action would now adjust the number of polling units from 2,627 to 4,519 with a total of 2,210,534 registered voters in the 192 wards in the state.
