The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that 86 out of the 5,720 Polling Units in Anambra state have no voters. The Anambra state governorship election is scheduled for November 6, 2021.
The chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the revelation at a special consultative meeting with political parties on Friday in Abuja.
Prof Yakubu said the commission would not deploy personnel and materials to the polling units without voters. He said 894 representing 15.6 per cent of the polling units have between one and 49 voters.
“Understandably, the voters have also been more circumspect in asking for a transfer to polling units. At the same time, the commission did not use its powers under Section 42 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) to allot voters to the new polling units to minimise the disruptions that may occur from such a decision given the forthcoming governorship election.
“Consequently, out of the 5,720 polling units in Anambra State, 86. 1.5 per cent have no voters. For that reason, the commission will not be deploying personnel and materials to these polling units. Furthermore, 894 representing 15.6 per cent of the polling units have between 1 and 49 voters. The election will hold in these polling units,” he said.
Prof. Yakubu also assured that the commission is committed to working with stakeholders to ensure that all polling units have voters assigned to them ahead of the 2023 general election.
Prof. Yakubu noted that all non-sensitive materials had been moved to the 21 Local Government Areas of Anambra State in preparation of the election, adding Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was handling the delivery of sensitive materials to the state on schedule.
“Our State office in Awka is arranging for stakeholders to inspect the materials at the premises of the CBN in Awka. As is the case in all elections, the sensitive materials are moved under security escort to each Local Government Area from where they are distributed to the Registration Areas or Wards and finally to Polling Units on Election Day,” he added.
The INEC chairman further urged political parties to present their agents who will inspect the materials at the CBN.
