The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has come out to say that it intends to take polling units closer to Nigerians in 2023.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, recently revealed this in Abuja during the training of the commission’s heads (Electoral Operations) on the implementation of voter access to PUs.

According to him, INEC will be taking polls to public places like schools, courts and hospitals ahead of the 2023 general elections, especially in overcrowded places.

He added that INEC is not doing Continuous Voters Registration at the moment because polling units expansion is the way to go.

His words, “We are not doing Continuous Voters Registration at the moment; this is because Nigerians have agreed and we have agreed that our polling units must be expanded.”

“Our polling units, due to their configuration, are overcrowded and prone to violence. We want to move such polling units to public places like schools, courts, and maybe hospitals.”

“We will relocate such polling units and check for underserved areas and take them there.”

“New registrant for their Continuous Voter Registration will be taken to the new polling units.”

“This will create room for social distancing; security men will also manage the election well. We don’t want Nigerians to suffer during elections. We want Nigerians to have a good voting experience.”

“We also want a situation where presiding officers and observers will have spaces to do their job, and we want to complete this process as soon as possible.”