Illegal Polling Units Were Sited In Shrines, Evil Forests, Residences – INEC Reveals

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has discovered several illegal polling units sited in shrines, thick forests and the residences of politicians in Anambra and Rivers states.

Mr Okonkwo Sylvester, Acting Chairman of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), confirmed the siting of such illegal polling units saying they were sited in Onitsha North, Ogbaru and Oyi local councils.

His Rivers State counterpart, Mrs. Dakoro, also said some polling units were sited in shrines and other hidden places.

The revelations about the siting of polling units in shrines and other unauthorised places were made by these chairmen of states’ independent electoral commissions at the knowledge sharing conference which INEC held with them on Monday in Abuja.

Prof. Attahiru Jega, INEC Chairman, said the workshop brought together election officials and local levels to interact, urging the states’ chairmen to ensure that the knowledge gained would guide them towards conducting credible elections in their states and the FCT.

Jega assured them that INEC will work in partnership with the state electoral commissions to relocate all the polling units in shrines and evil forests for the smooth conduct of the 2015 elections.

He said INEC has resolved to hold regular engagements with critical stakeholders as it prepares for the conduct of the 2015 general elections.

The INEC chairman insisted that credible local council elections must constitute the foundation of any credible democracy in the country, explaining that the commission fully recognises that the efforts being made to improve the quality of elections at the national level would have little effect unless the quality of elections at the local council level also improves.