By David Onimisi Lawani
The Pan Northern Socio-Cultural Organization, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to convert existing Voting Points and Voting Point Settlements into Polling Units, PUs, as practical and immediate measures to decongest and expand voter access to Polling Units.
The Secretary-General of the ACF, Murtala Aliyu made this known following a presentation by the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
The ACF members were unanimous that the Commission should use its powers in Section 42 of the Electoral Act (as amended) to create Polling Units.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu in his reaction disagreed and pointed out that even though the National Assembly had the power to make laws, it still held Public Hearings.
He argued that creating Polling Units in the past by fiat and without sufficient consultations resulted in debacles and controversies which the Commission wanted to avoid.
According to him:” This is a democracy. And there is a place for consultation in a democracy.”
The INEC boss disclosed that the Commission had received more than nine thousand requests across the country by communities for the creation of Polling Units.
He emphasised, however, that these requests were unsolicited and that they would not form the basis for the creation of Polling Units.
The INEC Chairman said the Commission will hold similar consultations with socio-ciltural organisations such as the Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo to harvest their inputs.
The presentation which took place at the ACF headquarters at No 11A Sokoto Road, Kaduna, coincided with its, ACF’s, statutory meeting.
Unfortunately, Nigeria has a critical problem of voter access to polling units – Yakubu
At the meeting were two National Commissioners, Barrister Festus Okoye and Malam Mohammed Kudu Haruna.
Also in attendance at the presentation were: The Chief Technical Adviser to the Hon. Chairman, Professor Bolade Eyinla; the Special Adviser to the Hon. Chairman, Professor Mohammad J.Kuna; the Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Nick Dazang and the Administrative Secretary, INEC Kaduna, Lawal Mohammed Mashi.
