Osun Election: INEC Relocates Polling Units From Politicians’ Houses And Religious Centres

Ahead of the July 16 governorship election in Osun State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has relocated polling units situated in front of palaces, politicians’ houses, religious centres and other controversial areas to avoid tension and ensure adequate security.

INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Osun, Professor Abdulganiy Raji who spoke ahead of the governorship election in the state holding this weekend, said polling units were moved away from controversial areas to open spaces and public buildings.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the electoral umpire in Osogbo, the state capital on Tuesday July 12, Raji said;

“Polling units were moved away from controversial areas such as the front of houses of politicians, front of palaces, religious centres, either to open spaces or public buildings.

“This action is to ensure adequate security and peaceful elections. Flashpoints have been identified and strategies (have been) mapped out to resolve issues that can truncate the election process.”

Raji also hinted on conversion of voting points to polling units in a bid to ensure the expansion of voter access to polling units.

The INEC REC who further confirmed that all non-sensitive materials to be used in Saturday’s election have been batched to the polling unit level and ready to be conveyed to the various Registration Area Centres (RACs), added that the commission had concluded the production of maps of all polling units in the state, both electronically and hardcopy, for ease of movement and location of polling units by electoral officials.

Raji concluded by saying that poll officials have been prepared for the exercise and are ready for deployment.