INEC Creates 30,000 Polling Units …To Use e-Register For 2015 Polls

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Alhaji Baba Farouk (5th left), with other stakeholders , on a walk to commemorate the World Water Day in Abuja,yesterday

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has indicated its readiness to use a biometric electronic register in the forthcoming 2015 general elections.
Also 30,000 polling units will be created to bring the total number of polling booths in the country to 120,000.
This will also reduce the number of voters from 3,000 to 500 in a polling unit for accreditation or voting in peak period.
The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak disclosed this during a peace and security conference orgainsed by the A.K Horsefall Foundation and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Ikoiwak said that the commission has subjected the voters’ register compiled in the last registration exercise in 2011 to automated fingerprints identification  system (AFIS), noting that the AFIS process made it possible for the commission to produce permanent voters’ cards which will soon be distributed in Rivers State and in all the states of the federation.
The INEC commissioner said that steps have been taken to introduce serial numbering of the sensitive materials that would be used during the election.
According to him, there is serial numbering and colour coding of ballot papers and results.
In his speech, the Public Relations Officer of the 2nd Briagade, Nigeria Army, Major Michael Etete said that the Nigerian Army and other security agencies were ready to ensure peace in the state.