Large Crowd Is A Big Challenge During Elections – INEC

INEC has come out to say that management of large crowd at several polling units is a major challenge during elections.

INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu recently revealed this at INEC’s first quarter meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) for this year.

According to him, with just 119,973 Polling Units serving a voter population of more than 84 million, voter access to polling units is currently a problem that must be rectified.

He added that it is a big problem that needs a solution because the number of eligible voters would only increase yearly.

His words, “The management of large crowds at many polling units across the country has been challenging to commission officials and members of ICCES.”

“This in some cases result in the late commencement of polls or the disruption of the sorting and counting of ballots at polling units.”

“Such disruptions often have consequences on electoral outcomes leading, in some instances, to avoidable supplementary elections.”

“As you are aware, the success of elections is largely a reflection of what happens at the polling unit level. It is the only point at which votes are cast by eligible citizens.”

“What follows thereafter is the collation process leading to the declaration of results.”

“However, the large crowds at some of our polling units on Election Day remain a challenge to the orderly management of elections.”

“In your reports to the Commission, some members of ICCES have alluded to this problem.”