Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State, the Independent National Electoral Commission has relocated the polling units situated in front of palaces, politicians’ houses, religious centres and other controversial areas across the state.
The polling units, according to INEC, were moved away from controversial locations to open spaces and public buildings.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun, Prof Abdulganiy Raji, made this known on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Commission in Osogbo, the state capital.
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.”
The REC also hinted at the conversion of voting points to polling units in order to give voters wider access to polling units.
He also confirmed that all non-sensitive materials meant for Saturday’s election have been batched to the polling unit level and ready for delivery to the various Registration Area Centres.
The REC also said INEC 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, who noted that poll officials had been prepared for the exercise and ready for deployment, added that the security personnel in the state had also been trained for Saturday’s exercise.