357 polling places in Katsina will be relocated by INEC

 Due to security issues in Katsina State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it would move 357 Polling Units to safer zones.

The decision, according to the commission, was made to guarantee that all Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in the state will be able to vote in the elections of 2023.

This was announced by Prof. Ibrahim Yahaya-Makarfi, the state's resident electoral commissioner (REC), during a stakeholders' conference on Friday in Katsina.

He clarified that measures for conducting elections in emergency scenarios have been provided in the Electoral Act 2022 in a clear and obvious manner.

“In specific terms, Section 24 of the Electoral  Act 2022 provides for the commission for as far as practicable to ensure that no persons displaced as a result of an emergency are disenfranchised.

“We will, therefore, ensure that as far as is practicable, we would provide every eligible voter with the opportunity to exercise his franchise as provided by the law.

“We have been working closely with stakeholders and security agencies in constant evaluation of the situations in areas facing security challenges for a strategic approach.

“We will ensure the successful conduct of free, fair, credible poll free from intimidation or molestation,” he said.

 "No PVC, No Election," he urged Nigerians who had registered but had not yet picked up their Permanent Voter Card (PVC).

He said that the commission had established a schedule for the collecting of PVCs across the state's 34 local government areas.

Alhaji Hussain Jafar, the Head of Operations at INEC, added that 12 of the 34 LGAs had been noted as having security issues.

“And out of the 361 Registration Areas (RAs), there are 73 with security challenges, and finally, out of the 6,652 PUs, there are 357 with security challenges.

“All the necessary procedures for the relocation of the affected PUs have been provided and the commission has received some of the non-sensitive electoral materials,” he said.