In spite of the
subtle plot to postpone next month’s general elections, the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) is forging ahead with its
preparations.
The commission has released the breakdown of 119, 973 polling units where the elections will hold nationwide.
All Polling Units (PUs) in private
compounds, mosques and churches have been relocated – in line with
international best practices.
Besides, INEC has blocked the cloning of
Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) by desperate politicians through the
deployment of Smart Card Readers.
With the distribution of 145,000 Smart Card Readers, no one can use stolen or purchased PVCs.
There have been calls in some circles
for the postponement of theelections, but INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru
Jega has told the United States, the European Union (EU) and
international organisations that the election will hold as scheduled on
February 14 and 28.
Jega has also met with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) where it was decided that the polls must go on as scheduled.
The INEC boss has got support from many quarters to hold the elections.
A one-time president of the Court of
Appeal, Justice Mustapha Akanbi said yesterday in Ilorin that the call
for polls shift is “suspicious” and “mischievous”.
A Coalition of Civil Society
Organisations (CSOs) also said yesterday that calling for a postponement
was unacceptable because it could lead to civil unrest.
The same position was expressed by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) made up of 2 political parties.
To them a shift will send a wrong signal and throw the country into chaos and anarchy.
A top source, who spoke in confidence
with our correspondent, said: “From the reports delivered by all
departments, units and RECs, there is no reason we will not go ahead
with the elections as from February 14.
“We are going ahead with preparations
for the polls irrespective of issues being raised by some people. The
INEC chairman has refrained from making comments to avoid the electoral
body being accused of bias.”
It was gathered that at the operational
meeting and a session with political parties on Tuesday, INEC released
the breakdown of 119, 973 Polling Units (PUs) where the elections will
hold nationwide.
The commission has also given a list of how the 145,000 smart cards were deployed in all the polling units to the parties.
The breakdown of the 119,973 polling
units in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) is as
follows: Abia (2,675); Adamawa(2,608); Akwa Ibom(2,980); Anambra(4,608);
Bauchi(4,074); Bayelsa(1,804); Benue(3,688); Borno(3,933); Cross
River(2,283); Delta(3,624); Ebonyi(1,785); Edo(2,627); and Ekiti(2,
195).
Others are Enugu(2,958); FCT(562);
Gombe(2,218); Imo(3,523); Jigawa(3,527); Kaduna(5,101); Kano(8,074);
Katsina(4,901); Kebbi(2,398); Kogi(2,548); and Kwara (1,872).
The PUs in the remaining states are:
Lagos(8,462); Nasarawa(1,495); Niger(3,185); Ogun(3,213); Ondo(3,009);
Osun(3,010); Oyo(4,783); Plateau(2, 631); Rivers(4,442); Sokoto(3, 035);
Taraba(1,912); Yobe(1,714); and Zamfara(2,516).
A National Commissioner said: “We have
developed a general framework for Polling Units, in line with
international standards. This is why we have relocated all PUs from
churches, mosques, private compounds and even verandah of schools.
“The electoral benchmark is that all PUs
should be inside enclosures to be able to monitor the voting process
and ensure effective control of the situation.”
INEC has shared 145,000 Smart Reader
Cards (SRCs) to all the RECs in the 36 states and FCT to check rigging
or manipulation during the elections with cloned/ stolen/ purchased
PVCs.
The National Commissioner added: “These
Smart Reader Cards will authenticate the holder of any PVC, confirm his
or her finger print and detect fake or cloned PVC.
“The SRCs help to count and record every
accreditation done at the PUs. So, the question of rigging will not be
there at all. Those busy cloning or buying cards will meet their
waterloo at the Polling Units.
“The introduction of SRCs explains why
we cannot allow those with temporary voter cards to vote in February. We
have 119, 973 polling units but we have deployed 145,000 SRCs to all
the states and the FCT.”
http://thenationonlineng.net/new/inec-nigeriansll-vote-119973-polling-units-2/
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