The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has debunked media reports that it recently created 30,000 additional polling units in order to compromise the 2019 general elections. Recall that the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Olagbondiyan on Friday has accused INEC planning to create 30,000 illegal polling units in some remote areas in order to rig the 2019 general elections in favour of the All Progressives Congress.
Reacting to the claim, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, on Sunday in Abuja, urged Nigerians to disregard the allegation. He however disclosed that the Commission had received over 3,789 requests nationwide for the creation of new polling units.
He said the Resident Electoral Commissioners in the affected states had been directed to thoroughly asses and provide it with information on new settlements not served or inadequately served by existing polling units.
“The RECs are also to assess and provide information on areas affected by communal and other conflicts that make voting in existing polling units unsafe for voters,“
"It is these reports and the information they contain that will be collated and carefully examined by the commission in order to determine what changes may be necessary in the current polling units` profile of the country.
“Therefore, the insinuation that the commission intends to create 30,000 new polling units to compromise the 2019 General Elections is false, misleading, unfounded and should be disregarded.”
