The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that 86 out of the 5,720 polling units in the state have no voters which means that they will not be able to exercise their franchise.
The INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who said this at a special consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja on Monday, however said the commission would not deploy personnel and materials to the polling units without voters. Yakubu said, 894 representing 15.6 per cent of the polling units have between 1 and 49 voters.
“Understandably, the voters have also been more circumspect in asking for a transfer to polling units. At the same time, the commission did not use its powers under Section 42 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) to allot voters to the new polling units to minimize the disruptions that may occur from such a decision given the forthcoming governorship election.
“Consequently, out of the 5,720 polling units in Anambra State, 86; 1.5 per cent have no voters. For that reason, the commission will not be deploying personnel and materials to these polling units. Furthermore, 894 representing 15.6 per cent of the polling units have between 1 and 49 voters. The election will hold in these polling units,” Yakubu noted.
The INEC boss however said the commission is committed to working with stakeholders to ensure that all polling units have voters allotted to them before the 2023 general election
Yakubu also disclosed that all non-sensitive materials have been moved to the 21 Local Government Areas of the State. While the Central Bank of Nigeria will handle the delivery of sensitive materials on schedule. He urged political parties to present their agents to be on the ground for the inspection of the materials at the CBN.
“Our State office in Awka is arranging for stakeholders to inspect the materials at the premises of the CBN in Awka. As is the case in all elections, the sensitive materials are moved under security escort to each Local Government Area from where they are distributed to the Registration Areas or wards and finally to polling units on election day”, he said.