The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,says it will create additional 1,750 voting centres in Katsina State so as to decongest voters preparatory to 2023 general elections.
According to the commission, the additional Voting Centres which will move the total in the State to 6,652 will be done after the conclusion of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) to be conducted later in the year.
The Katsina State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Jibril Ibrahim Zarewa, made the disclosure on Monday at a two-day workshop for Electoral Officers (EOs) and Assistant Electoral Officers (AEOs) of the Commission in Katsina on Expanding Vote Access to Polling Units (PUs).
Ibrahim Zarewa said the inability of the Commission to routinely expand voter access to polling units when necessary has been principally due to politicization of the process by sundry interests in the country, especially by those propagating on unfounded claims and conspiracy theories about the Commission’s intention which caused the Commission not to engaging the stakeholders properly.
Voter access to polling units is fundamental to our elections and democracy, noting that over the years several challenges have confronted INEC with regard to Polling Units such as inadequate number of polling Units available to voters as a result of population growth, demographic shifts and growth of new settlements and expansion of towns and villages, existing polling units have become inadequate and to make accessible locations particularly for persons living with disabilities (PWDs).”
He also announced that from June 28, 2021 it will commence the process of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) which will provide opportunity for new registration and those wishes to transfer their voting stations to do so.
The Katsina INEC boss, Jibril Ibrahim Zarewa assured the electoral stakeholders in Katsina State that they will continue to engage them in order to further improve on the electoral process and appealed to them to put in all efforts in order for the exercise to succeed, thereby enhancing more participation of eligible voters in Katsina State.
