The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria has explained that the recent addition of 453 polling units nationwide is a result of a court ruling that created new constituencies in three states: Kogi, Benue, and Delta. According to INEC's Deputy Director of Information and Publicity, Wilfred Osilama Ifogah, the changes were necessary to reflect the newly established constituencies. This development aims to ensure that the electoral process accurately represents the current political landscape.
The court ruling that led to the creation of new constituencies has implications for the wards and polling units in the affected areas. INEC is currently conducting an internal review to examine these implications and ensure that the necessary adjustments are made. The commission plans to brief electoral stakeholders after completing the required processes. This approach is aimed at maintaining transparency and ensuring that all stakeholders are informed about the changes.
Reports indicate that Nigeria's polling units have increased from 176,846 to 177,299, representing the addition of 453 units. However, INEC has not officially confirmed these figures or provided a detailed breakdown of the additional polling units across the three states. The commission is also keen to distinguish this exercise from a similar expansion of polling units carried out in 2020.
The 2020 exercise involved converting existing voting points into independent polling units to reduce congestion and improve access to voting locations. In contrast, the current changes are focused on reflecting the new constituencies established by the court ruling. INEC maintains that the new locations established in 2020 were not too far from voters' previous polling units, although some voters had complained about being moved to different locations.
The addition of new polling units comes amid scrutiny of INEC's preparations for the 2027 general elections. There are concerns over suspicious photographs and questionable entries in the commission's preliminary Register of Voters. INEC has acknowledged these concerns, particularly regarding photographs suspected to have been generated using artificial intelligence.
In response to these concerns, INEC issued a statement on October 27, indicating that it was reviewing the affected records and investigating possible technical or procedural lapses. The statement was signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of the commission's Information and Voter Education Committee. The commission is taking steps to address these issues and ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
INEC has yet to release full details of the reported polling unit changes, including their locations and the procedures used to establish them. The commission's efforts to enhance transparency and address concerns about the electoral process are ongoing. Key stakeholders are awaiting further information from INEC to ensure that the changes align with the court's ruling and do not compromise the integrity of the electoral process.
Key points
- The addition of 453 polling units is a result of a court ruling establishing new constituencies in Kogi, Benue, and Delta states.
- INEC is conducting an internal review to examine the implications of the court ruling on wards and polling units in the affected areas.
- The commission is addressing concerns over suspicious photographs and questionable entries in its preliminary Register of Voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
