Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in charge of Akwa Ibom State, Barrister Mike Igini has urged electoral officers on the need to build the confidence and trust of voters in Nigeria’s electoral system.
Igini made the call during the opening session of INEC’s training for EOs/AEOs (electoral officers) in preparatory to the 2021 expansion of voters access to polling units.
His words in full: “Let me start by telling you a secret a voter told me in confidence. He said that unless we, that is INEC earn the trust of the public, whenever we say that we are expanding polling units to increase voter access, they suspect there are other political agenda in the making. How many of you agree that many voters think in the same way? This has been the reason why for twenty five (25) years we have not been able to expand voters access in the country.
“However, the Commission has succeeded so far in the current efforts through the adoption of a new approach to disabuse the minds of Nigerians who harbour such misconceptions. Thus, apart from the technical issues in this training, it is also about trust building.
“Today, therefore, marks the commencement of Training in Akwa-Ibom State for E.Os/AEOs in preparation for the Commission’s 2021 plan to expand voters access to Polling Units across the country.
“As permanent staff, you all may recall that the last time efforts were made to expand voters access to ensure ease of voting on election day was in 1996. That is a period of twenty five (25) years ago, with the result that voters access to Polling Units and ease of voting on election day has been problematic, difficult and chaotic during elections.
“Since 1996 when the number of Polling Units have been 119, 973 there had been a geometric increase in the number of registered voters without a corresponding increase in the number of Polling Units . This trend had resulted in overpopulated Polling Units across the country.
“The objective of the current efforts to expand access of Nigerians to Polling Units pursuant to section 42 of the Act, is the reasons for the training you are about to undertake as field officers to ensure:
a) Expansion of more access to voters on Election Day
b) To decongest overpopulated Polling Units to a minimum of 750 and maximum of 1,000 voters per Polling Unit; and
c) To address the declining voters turnout at every elections
This exercise is very important to the Commission for the benefit of the Nigerian people as we approach the 2023. Participation in the choice of leadership by the people is the whole essence of democracy and it represents the greatest dimension of Liberal democracy. Therefore, as permanent staff saddled with the task of implementing the vision and mission of the Commission, you must take this Training very seriously because the success of this exercise lies squarely on you all as field officers.
“The commission has provided the tools and materials that you need to carry out this project across the thirty one (31) local governments of this state. As E.Os and AEOs, you have a duty to educate stakeholders on what this expansion of voters access is all about and what it is not in order to avoid unnecessary pressure for favours that you do not have authority to grant to individuals or groups over polling units establishment or allocation. In other words, as I said earlier, you need to build trust, restore and sustain confidence of the Nigerian people in order to make the task of election day management easier for all stakeholders.
“The total numbers of voting points in each state across the entire thirty six states of Nigeria is already settled and known to all. In Akwa-Ibom State, we have one thousand three hundred and seventy three (1,373) voting points to be reallocated to decongest overpopulated Polling Units and to service new settlements.
“These numbers will not change for the purpose of this exercise. Its only the Commission that has the power to determine the criteria for the implementation of the exercise. Therefore, you must adhere strictly to established principles and issued guidelines as field officers. In particular, you must exhibit the highest principles of ethical standards by ensuring that you are not found wanting in breach of the guidelines as punitive measures would be taken by the Commission against any and all who is found on the wrong side of the law. At the end of your field work, you are expected to write a report that must take into account the provision of section 117(e) of the Act which says that you must not “make any record, register or document which he is required to prepare, publish or keep for the purpose of registration, any entry or statement which he knows to be false or does not believe to be true”
“The Commission expects the best and is looking forward to a successful implementation of improved voters access to Polling Units in Akwa lbom state. Key highlights in this training will include: The Commission’s policy on appropriate location of polling units, how to capture Polling Unit coordinates using UTM GEO map application and enumerating the threshold for voting points which the ICT Department will provide during the training.
“The Commission expects the best and is looking forward to a successful implementation of improved voters access to Polling Units in Akwa lbom state, and hereby declare the training session open.
Thank you.
