The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has created 1,112 new polling units in Anambra, bringing the total polling units in the state to 5,720.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr. Mkpachukwu Orji, announced this on Monday in Awka, state capital, at a stakeholder briefing on the expansion of voter’s access and establishment of new polling units.
Mr Orji said the exercise was entirely data driven and status neutral, stressing that despite the increased the number of registered voters, the access to polling units has remained constant in the last 25 years.
He said that INEC national headquarters began the process about two weeks ago, hinted that already additional 1,112 new polling units have been added to the existing 4,608 polling units in the state.
“The polling units in the state had witnessed over-crowding in previous elections as a result of the phenomenal increase in the number of registered voters which, according to him, now stood at 5,720 polling units”. Orji stated.
He also lamented that less than 30 percent of registered voters in the state cast their votes in the last general election and called on the stakeholders in the state to mobilize voters to actively participate in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
He said the situation has become a discouraging factor for voters’ participation in the voting process, resulting in delays, disruptions, and violence and voter apathy which necessitated the creation of new polling units.
