Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has stated its support for the plan by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to create additional polling units across the country, while urging Nigerians not to politicise the process.
According to ACF, expanding access to polling units is fundamental to the conduct of free, fair, credible and safe elections, as well as exercise of the right of Nigerians to vote in leaders of their choice.
ACF said this in a communiqué issued and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Yawe after the Forum’s National Working Committee (NWC) had an interactive session with INEC officials on Tuesday as part of the Commission’s national engagement and consultations with stakeholders on the need to expand voter access to polling units in country.
The meeting was attended by ACF NWC members led by the ACF Secretary-General, Alhaji Murtala Aliyu, who represented the ACF National Chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh, while the INEC team, consisting of two National Commissioners and other Senior Officials was led by the Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
The communiqué reads, “that given the current state of voter access on polling units in Nigeria, expanding access to polling units is fundamental to the exercise of the right vote, as well as to the conduct of free, fair, credible and safe elections.
“That INEC’s efforts at consulting with all stakeholders to develop a consensus and build trust in the process of expanding voter access to polling units is very important and necessary.
