A Presidential aspirant under the National Conscience Party (NCP), Yinusa Tanko, on Tuesday said the creation of additional polling units will send a wrong signal to Nigerians.
Tanko who was a guest on Channels Television Breakfast Programme, Sunrise Daily said, “If you do it (create additional polling units) during the time of election or close to election, it will send a red signal. People will think that there is an ulterior motive trying to give an advantage to certain group of contestants.”
Tanko’s statement is in reaction to earlier speculations that INEC had the plans to create additional polling units. Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu had however debunked this claim by saying despite requests from people that INEC create 30,000 additional polling units, the commission is not in a hurry to do so.
READ ALSO: Liberia’s Success Is Important To Nigeria – Osinbajo
Tanko, however, emphasised that the move to create additional polling units now that the 2019 elections is fast approaching would be strongly resisted by political parties, including the NCP, which he represents.
“That would not be acceptable for political parties, especially now that is very close to the general elections.
“I can say this with due respect to INEC. This is not the right time for this, it ought to have been done immediately after an election has taken place.”
With the election less than a year from now, Nigerians hope for credibility in the electoral process while exercising their franchise.
