SENATORS are to overrule Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) Chairman Attahiru Jega should he fail to reverse the proposed creation
of additional 30,000 polling units.
The commission’s attempt to establish the polling units has received
several knocks from Nigerians who have read ulterior motives to the move,
especially ahead of the 2015 general elections.
INEC has been accused of unduly favouring some geopolitical zones in the
number of new polling units allocated them to the detriment of others.
The Senate Committee on INEC wrote to the electoral umpire to suspend
the plan until after the elections.
But Jega has continued to defend the proposal, saying it is meant to
reduce the high number of voters in most polling units to manageable proportions
during voting.
The chairman Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Andy Uba, told reporters
in Abuja that the Senate would pass a resolution to stop the exercise if Jega
fails to heed its advice.
Uba, who noted that the idea behind the creation of additional PUs was
sound, however said the timing was wrong.
He said: “We have sent a letter to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru
Jega, and we expressed our reservations over the planned creation of additional
polling units across the country.
“What he is doing is good, but the timing is wrong. We are close to an
election year and we have so many displaced people in the North Eastern part of
the country. So where will the INEC put the new polling units?
“If they (INEC) continue with it (new polling centres), we will pass a
resolution to overrule it. It is simple, and once we pass our resolution, is he
going to go ahead and say he doesn’t care?
“There are consequences when you say you don’t care; that is what it is,
but I know he (Jega) is a gentleman and he is a man who keeps to his words. We
had a meeting and sent him a letter.
“He should know that his integrity, from what people are saying, is at
stake, but that is not our business. And I don’t believe that he has anything
in mind against anybody or anything.”
The lawmaker representing Anambra South explained that his committee
intervened due to the timing of the exercise, even though the exercise is
geared towards eliminating problems voters usually encounter at polling
centres.
Uba added: “There are over 4000 registered voters in Wuse II in Abuja,
for instance, and you know the inconvenience when 4000 people are expected to
queue up in line.
“It is not possible for all of them to be accredited before voting would
start. Many people will come and would be turned back.
“It (the exercise) is a good idea, but the timing is wrong.
Uba is confident that the amendment to the Electoral Act will be
concluded as soon as the Senate resumes from the Sallah break.
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