Extra polling units: Nigerians in Diaspora write Jega

The controversy surrounding the proposed 30,000 extra polling units across the country by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to abate as Nigerians in the Diaspora have written the commission seeking further clarifications.

In a statement jointly signed by Dechi Dariye,  Osahon Osagie and Abayomi  Adeolu, president, secretary and a member​ respectively, the concerned Nigerians, based in the United States of America, commended INEC leadership for work well done, but warned that the provision of 30,000 additional polling units could rubbish the commission’s past performance.

The statement read in part: “Sadly the reports, relating to the arbitrary creation of polling units that appears to be inspired by sectional/regional interest which may have regressive consequences for the forthcoming 2015 electoral process in Nigeria.
“Our findings revealed that while there is need to create polling units due to congestion and emergence of new settlements, there are no credible scientific evidence to support the formula used to create these new polling units.
“Against this background, we sought evidence of recent constituency delimitation and districting exercises called wards in our country that should normally precede the exercise of polling units creation.
“We can only find the report of Dr. Lisa Handley, a renowned consultant on delimitation which advised that INEC required a minimum of three years in-between general elections to commence and conclude a review of constituencies and secure the approval of the National Assembly.”
“Secondly, we note that the Senate committee in Nigeria responsible for oversight functions on election management has advised against continuing with the new polling unit allocations because of the limited time required to embark upon a credible process, following international benchmarks.
“We see this as a realistic corroboration of the Handley recommendations, but sadly, despite public denials by the electoral commission under your leadership, we hear of subterranean efforts to surge ahead with the new polling units, despite professional recommendations and legislative oversight disapproval.”
The concerned Nigerians abroad therefore urged Jega, “to revert to the tested contingencies which your commission applied in the previous elections and heed the advice of Dr. Handley, the Senate oversight committee and others.”