The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has identified 240 out of the 176,846 polling units nationwide where elections will not take place on February 25 and March 11, 2023.
The Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who disclosed this while meeting with the Chairmen of the 18 registered political parties, said the polling units have no registered voters.
Of the 240 polling units, the commission said Imo and Jigawa States has the most polling units totaling 38 and 34 respectively, Independent learnt that the absence of voters in the polling units was due to insecurity in the areas.
The remaining 26 States and Abuja has 12 polling units each without voters.
The commission also advised voters to use dedicated platform on the INEC website to confirm the location of their polling units to avoid any mix-up on Election Day.
“The Commission is advising voters to confirm the locations of their polling units through a dedicated portal on our website. In addition, all voters who have been assigned to new polling units will receive text messages from the Commission indicating their polling units.”
“We have also compiled the register of such voters and our State offices will give it wide publicity, especially for those who may not have provided their telephone numbers during voter registration or those whose numbers may have changed.”
“Voters can locate and confirm their polling units before Election Day by sending a regular text or WhatsApp message to a dedicated telephone number. Details of the simple procedure will be uploaded to our social media platforms shortly.”
Meanwhile,the electoral commission has warned leaders of political parties to rein in their supporters from the descent to violence, resulting in the loss of human life.
Professor Yakubu also challenged the security and intelligence agencies to arrest, investigate and try perpetrators of violent attacks as well persons making incendiary comments that stoke crisis.
“The Commission is concerned about violent attacks on supporters of political parties across the board, resulting in the loss of life in some cases. Let me once again appeal to Chairman and leaders of political parties to continue to call your candidates and supporters to order.”
“I also call on the security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies to arrest, investigate and prosecute anyone involved in violent conduct, including incendiary statements capable of inciting a breach of the peace”.
