INEC TO RELOCATE POLLING BOOTS CITED IN SHRINES

Chairman of Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, said on Monday (today) that the commission would relocate polling booths located around shrines in some parts of the country.

The chairman said this at a one-day conference on Knowledge and Experience Sharing on Voters’ Register with State Independent Electoral Commissions in Abuja.

Jega said polling units were not supposed to be located in shrines, adding that the commission has had cause to relocate some polling booths in Anambra earlier due to the same reason.

Prof. Attahiru Jega

He urged members of the public to avail the Commission with information on such polling units for prompt action.

“No polling unit is to exist in shrine, forest or isolated areas. We have done it before; we relocated one in Anambra and we got all sorts of petitions.

“They said it was a farm settlement but investigation proved them wrong. We have investigated it, they are just there to help other people to rig elections.”

He said the continued voters’ registration and de-limitation would take care of persons displaced due to natural disasters or civil strife.

Jega said the Commission would invest “significant time, energy and resources” in compiling a new voters’ register in preparation of the general elections.

“The electoral Act, 2010, as amended, empowers INEC to carry out regular update of register of voters through the continued voters’ registration.”

He said the Commission had conducted a review of voter’s register in Kogi, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Sokoto and Cross Rivers ahead of the 2011 elections.

Jega said the exercise was, however, suspended in Edo and Ondo owing to “mistrust and biter contention among politicians”.

He said the commission had conducted similar exercise in Anambra in readiness for the Nov.16 election.

He said INEC would conduct the exercise nationwide before the end of the year to give eligible voters the opportunity to register and participate in future elections.

In his speech, a Director at the UN Development Programme, Dr Mourtada Deme, said the 2011 elections marked a turning point for INEC’s effort towards conducting a hitch-free elections.

Deme said the commission had done a lot in its effort to review the electoral act as well as the review of voter’s register, amongst others.

The conference brought together election managers and partner agencies in the country to share knowledge and experience on election matters. (NAN)