INEC to cancel ‘idle’ polling units after 2023

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ogun State, Olusegun Agbaje, says some of the newly created polling units in the state have not been effectively utilised by citizens in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise. To this end, he warned that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may cancel idle polling units after the 2023 […]

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ogun State, Olusegun Agbaje, says some of the newly created polling units in the state have not been effectively utilised by citizens in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise.

To this end, he warned that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may cancel idle polling units after the 2023 elections.

Our correspondent reports that in May 2021, INEC announced the creation of additional 1,832 polling units as part of its voter access expansion.

With the development, Ogun State, which hitherto had 3,210 polling units now has a total of 5,042 units.

But the REC, while addressing political party leaders at INEC Headquarters in Abeokuta on Thursday, during the election of the state chapter of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), noted that the commission had observed that the newly created polling units were not being populated by the citizens.

He noted that the development afforded citizens to register or transfer their registration to their nearest voting locations.

He said if the newly created units are not well populated and utilised ahead of next year’s general elections, the commission has a right to cancel them.

The REC urged party leaders to mobilise citizens towards ensuring full utilisation of the polling units to avoid them being taken away.