The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has Urged the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to convert existing Voting Points and Voting Point Settlements into Polling Units(PUs).
This the forum expressed the believe would be practical and immediate measures to decongesting and expanding voter access to Polling Units.
The Secretary-General of the ACF, Murtala Aliyu gave the indication while making a presentation before the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
The ACF members were unanimous in urging the Commission to use its powers in Section 42 of the Electoral Act (as amended) to create Polling Units administratively.
However, the INEC Chairman in a swift reaction disagreed with the ACF position, pointing out that even though the National Assembly had the power to make laws, it still held Public Hearings.
Professor Yakubu argued that creating Polling Units in the past by fiat and without sufficient consultations resulted in debacles and controversies which the Commission wanted to avoid.
“This is a democracy. And there is a place for consultation in a democracy.”
Professor Yakubu disclosed that the Commission had received more than nine thousand requests across the country by communities for the creation of Polling Units.
He emphasised, however, that the requests were unsolicited and that they would not form the basis for the creation of Polling Units.
Yakubu said the Commission will hold similar consultations with sociocultural organisations such as the Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo to harvest their inputs.
The presentation which took place at the ACF headquarters at No 11A Sokoto Road, Kaduna, coincided with its(ACF’s) statutory meeting.
At the meeting were two National Commissioners, Barrister Festus Okoye and Malam Mohammed Kudu Haruna. Also in attendance at the presentation were: The Chief Technical Adviser to the Chairman, Professor Bolade Eyinla; the Special Adviser to the Chairman, Professor Mohammad J.Kuna; the Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Nick Dazang and the Administrative Secretary, INEC Kaduna, Lawal Mohammed Mashi
