The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it was still struggling with imbalance in the distribution of voters in many states. The commissioner said it was, however, working to overcome the challenge before the 2023 general elections.

Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, disclosed this on Wednesday when he received the European Union (EU) Election Observation Follow-up Mission, led by the Head of EU Observation Mission, Maria Arena, in Abuja on Tuesday.

“We must admit that in many states. we are struggling to achieve a more balanced distribution of voters to polling units,” Mr Yakubu said.

“However, this is a priority project for the commission which will be accomplished before the 2023 general elections.”

Feeling the successes of the electoral umpire so far, the chairman said the commission has implemented many of the recommendations outlined by local and international observers from the 2019 elections.

“We have similarly expanded voter access to polling units for the first time in 25 years by converting the erstwhile 56,872 Voting Points and Voting Point (Settlements) into polling units and relocation of some of them from congested locations to unserved and under-served locations, bringing the total number of polling units to 176,846.”

Parts of the 178 recommendation implemented include internal review of the commission’s regular and ad hoc officials. This Mr Yakubu noted was subsequently expanded to include political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies and media organisations.

Still, he said INEC was working with the National Assembly “on areas that require legislative action by way of amendments to the Electoral Act and the constitution.”

Mr Yakubu said the biggest progress made by the commission since 2019 was in the area of deepening the deployment of technology in elections.

“INEC is the first electoral commission in West Africa, if not Africa as a whole, to upload polling unit level results to a portal in real-time on election day.

“In addition, there are other portals for ease of nomination of candidates and submission of list of polling agents by political parties and the accreditation of media, domestic and international observers.”

The INEC chairman said that INEC had also made a huge progress in the area of voter accreditation through the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

Earlier in her remarks, Arena said the purpose of the mission was to assess how recommendations made on the 2019 general elections had been implemented.

“As you know we have had recommendations after the 2019 general elections. The purpose of this follow up mission is to assess the way the country has taken onboard these recommendations.”

She commended INEC for working with relevant stakeholders to achieve the new Electoral Act, expressing confidence that it would make an important difference in the next election in 2023.

“This is really important for us to see also the way INEC contributes to this electoral Act. Also you did work with important stakeholders like the Civil Society Organisations on these changes.”

The head of the EU Follow Up Mission while commending INEC on the new Act, said having the new Electoral Act was good but the implementation was more important.

Ms Arena said that the EU as a long standing partner of Nigeria would continue to advise and support INEC to strengthen the country’s democracy.

“The EU has recently launched its new electoral support programme in view of the next elections.

“We are very happy and proud to have the opportunity to continue to work with you, supporting you and to contribute to improving the electoral process and system in Nigeria.

“ This is in the interest to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and in the interest of the people,” Arena said.

She was accompanied by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, and others.

(NAN)