INEC Halts 30,000 New Polling Units

The Independent National Electoral Commission has suspended the creation of new polling units until after the 2015 general election. The Commission took the decision yesterday, according to a statement.
The creation of the additional 30,000 polling units by INEC had generated controversy since it was announced.
A section of the country had said it was created to give undue advantage to the North ahead of the 2015 general election.
But rising from a meeting of its management, INEC announced the suspension of the idea.The meeting, according to a statement, reviewed reports sent in from states by Resident Electoral Commissioners on reconfiguration of the polling unit structure and creation of additional polling units.
“Taking everything into consideration – especially the controversy over creation of additional polling units that has been overheating the polity, and the apparent inadequacy of time for the exercise – the Commission took a decision to suspend the exercise until after the 2015 general elections.” INEC said.
The statement, signed by the Secretary of the Commission, Augusta C. Ogakwu, said nevertheless, it will continue with the use of Voting Points, where necessary, to mitigate population pressure in overcrowded polling units during the forthcoming elections.
INEC is also to relocate polling units from unsuitable locations and as much as possible ensure that polling units are located in enclosures such classrooms, rather than in open spaces.