Ogun: INEC trains Electoral Officers on expansion of voter access to polling units

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Wednesday, April 21, embarked on a one day training of Electoral Officers and Assistant Electoral Officers in Ogun State.

Great Achiever Magazine reports that the training, which is on Expansion of Voter Access to Polling Units in the State was held at the State Office of the Commission, Magbon, Abeokuta.

According to a release signed on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner by INEC's Head of Voter Education and Publicity in Ogun State, Mrs Tadese Adenike, the training became imperative to solve the problem of enhancing access to Polling Units (PUs) in Nigeria which were established 25years ago in 1996.  

Tadese said the objectives of the Exercise are:

i. To expand voter access to polling Units by converting existing Voting Points and Voting Points Settlements into Stand-Alone Polling Units and where necessary, relocating new and existing Polling Units to places where they are closer to and/or more accessible to voters and the Commission.

ii. Decongest existing Polling Units by reducing the number of voters per Polling Unit.

iii. Continue to improve the quality of electoral services provided to Nigerians by the Commission.

iv. Improve health and safety conditions at Polling Units during elections in order to comply with COVID-19 Protocols.

v. Address declining voter turnout at elections due to lack of access to Polling Units.

At the end of the training exercise, the Electoral Officers were expected to carry out the exercise in line with the stated objectives and guidelines released by the Commission.