Saraki Faults Uba On Cancellation Of New Polling Units, Warns Against Meddling In INEC Matters

The immediate past governor of Kwara State, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Thursday said the Senate had not debated the issue of the new polling units created by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, across the country

He made the clarification in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Bamikole Omishore, in Abuja, on Thursday.

In the statement, Saraki, who is Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, said the statement credited to Senator Andy Uba on the issue of additional polling units was at best, his personal views.

The statement stated, “Senator Saraki will like to state clearly that as legislators, the same way we clamour for politicians not to interfere with the Nigerian Police Force as an independent body, we should not also interfere with INEC.

“In the last few years, Nigeria’s electoral process has been witnessing salient changes; to a high level, candidates and masses are certain that elections will be won based on votes cast and counted legally.

“This development does not only give confidence to the electorate; it also compels political office holders to perform in order to avoid being voted out.

“These are good developments for our democracy as a nation. This has been seen in recent elections like Osun election where the voices of the people were heard through their votes.

“However, as more developments are being introduced into the electoral system, discussions are ongoing about the cancellation of new polling units created across the country.

“We must note that this must be the opinion of INEC as an independent organisation and not that of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters”.

Recall that Sen. Uba, who chairs the Electoral Matters Committee, had written a letter to the INEC, advising it to suspend the exercise till after the 2015 general elections or risk being barred by the Senate.