UYO – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has given priority attention to the needs of People With Disability (PWD) and other vulnerable groups in its just-concluded polling unit extension.
The commission which announced an additional 1,374 more polling units in Akwa Ibom State said it gave priority to the relocation of the existing and well-known voting points in unserved and under-served areas with particular focuss to giving access to the PWDs.
At the Stakeholders Meeting on Expansion Of Voters Access and Establishment of New Polling Units, organized by INEC in Uyo at the weekend, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Mike Igini, said with the creation, the State now has 4,354 polling units.
Igini said the exercise was necessitated by the realization that without access to convenient voting locations on the day of election, the right to vote becomes meaningless.
He explained that the new polling units were realised by converting the existing and well known voting points into full fledged polling units.
He said the creation of the polling units was data driven and based on demographic and spatial considerations, adding that the creation was neccessary due to overcrowed polling units caused by phenomenal increase in the number of registered voters across the country.
The REC who noted that limited number of polling units was a discouraging factor for voter participation and the voting process, said such deficiency was responsible for delays, disruptions, violence and voter apathy.
His words: “This phenomenal increase in the number of registered voters relative to the limited number of polling units (2,980) has led to over-crowded and over-congested polling units across the country and here in Akwa Ibom State.
“This is the situation the Commission is seeking address given that limited access to polling units have become a discouraging factor for voter participation and the voting process, resulting in delays, disruptions, violence and voter apathy.
“To address these problems, the commission pursuant to its power under section 42 of the Electoral Act decided to convert the existing and well-known one thousand, three hundred seventy-four (1,374) voting points to full fledged polling units.
“This brings the total number of polling units in Akwa lbom State to 4,354. The entire ongoing process is data-driven and based on demographic and spatial considerations.
“It should be noted that the problem of access has not only been that of availability and sufficiency but also the suitability of the locations of Polling Units for voting by all voters,” he stated.