INEC TO CONVERT 1,187 VOTING POINTS IN ENUGU STATE INTO VOTING UNITS

Reporter : CHINELO PHIL-OPARA

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Enugu State has engaged stakeholders for input on its planned conversion of one thousand, one hundred and eighty seven existing voting points in the state to polling units.

The Chairman of the meeting and National Commissioner Supervisory South East Zone, Professor Okechukwu Ibeanu, said this was to improve citizens’ accessibility to polling units during elections as a way of fighting voter apathy.

The Chairman, who made this known at the INEC State Office in Enugu, noted the two thousand seven hundred and fifty eight polling units in the state created since 1996, were grossly inadequate as changes such as population growth, establishment of new communities and settlements in urban areas have taken place.

He noted that previous attempts by the Commission in 2007, 2014 and 2018 to establish the polling units caused problem as some stakeholders felt they were not consulted.

Professor Ibeanu advised them to quicken the process as the Commission had the intention of putting the new polling units to use during the continuous voters registration commencing on the JUNE 18, 2021.

The INEC resident Electoral Commissioner Enugu State, Dr. Emeka Onanamadu, in an address of welcome said the meeting was to unveil the extent that the Commission had gone to ensure that voters in the state had improved access to polling units through conversion of existing voting points in the State.

During the interactive session issues such as modalities for selection and relocation of the new polling units were explained in reply to questions.

Two of the participants interviewed, Chief Paul Anike and Mr. Dickson Ani, commended the Commissioner for carrying the stakeholders along.

Interest groups, which were over one hundred included those from political parties, security operatives and religious groups.