The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Attahiru Jega on Wednesday explained why the commission has allocated more polling units to the geo-political zones in the North, than those in the South, saying the plan is based on the existing number of registered voters in the country, which he put at 70,383,427.
He said this while addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.
Jega argued that contrary to the belief that the action was motivated by mischief, INEC arrived at the decision in order to improve the electoral process ahead of the 2015 general election.
Though plans to increase the polling units have not yet been finalized, the ratio has angered the three geopolitical zones in the south, with some calling for Mr. Jega’s resignation, accusing him of bias.
However, Mr. Jega vowed not to resign, and said those asking him to quit lack adequate information on the exercise and are being mischievous.
The Commission had last month announced its plan to create additional PUs before the general elections next year to bring the number of units in the country to 150,000 from the original 119,973.