An official document obtained by SaharaReporters reveals that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has created 453 additional polling units without public announcement or disclosure to key electoral stakeholders. This development raises serious concerns about transparency and accountability ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to the document, Delta State now has 6,316 polling units, up from 5,863 during the last general elections.
INEC sources who spoke to SaharaReporters, citing official documentary evidence, disclosed that the additional polling units were created without public disclosure, while the commission continues to publicly maintain that Nigeria has 176,846 polling units. Some senior officials and staff of the commission were unaware of the exercise, which raises fresh questions about INEC's management of the country's electoral infrastructure.
The discovery comes amid unresolved concerns over suspected AI-generated photographs and questionable entries in INEC's preliminary Register of Voters. Sources familiar with the development told SaharaReporters that the creation of new polling units without public disclosure or stakeholder engagement is troubling, especially given the commission's previous commitment to transparency and accountability.
INEC has the statutory authority to establish adequate polling units in electoral wards and allocate voters to them under Section 40 of the Electoral Act 2022. However, sources argue that the power must be exercised transparently and in accordance with established procedures. The creation of polling units has significant political, geographical, social, and cultural implications, and unexplained changes could generate communal tensions and disputes over electoral arrangements.
In 2021, INEC announced the creation of 56,872 additional polling units, increasing the national total from 119,974 to 176,846, following extensive consultations with stakeholders and technical assessments across the country. Sources questioned why the commission appeared to have abandoned the consultation and transparency principles it previously presented as central to polling unit expansion.
One of the sources called on INEC to immediately publish comprehensive details of the 453 alleged additional polling units, including their locations, identification codes, wards, local government areas, and dates of creation. The source also demanded disclosure of the demographic considerations behind the exercise, the officials who approved it, and the administrative documents authorising the creation of the units.
The source further called for the commission to disclose whether consultations were conducted with political parties, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, and other relevant stakeholders before the exercise. The development has raised serious questions about institutional accountability, administrative transparency, and the commission's commitment to conducting credible elections.
Key points
- INEC created 453 new polling units without public disclosure or stakeholder engagement.
- The creation of new polling units raises concerns about transparency, accountability, and the commission's commitment to conducting credible elections.
- INEC is urged to publish comprehensive details of the new polling units, including their locations, identification codes, and demographic considerations.
