The Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamasi Esuwoye II has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to consider the possibility of creating additional polling units across the country.
Oba Mufutahu observed that the existing polling units in the country are inadequate in view of the rapid edevelopment that have been taking place in most of the cities and towns in each of the 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory.
The monarch made the observation on Thursday (September 20, 2018) when the Kwara State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mallam Garba Attahiru Madami and some principal officers of the commission paid the Olofa a royal homage in his palace.
Oba Mufutahu who attributed the low turn out of voters during the elections in the country to the inadequate polling units, stressed that some people have to walk in a long distance from their residence before they could cast their votes saying that such scenario has discouraged many voters to exercise their constitutional rights during the election.
“Considering the development that have taken place in each community since the last time the Commission carried out such act, present polling units are grossly inadequate” he observed.
The foremost Traditional ruler complained that the current polling units are too far apart, adding that the restriction placed on movement of the electorate on election days usually makes it difficult for many people to make it to their registered polling booths.
Oba Esuwoye said he was speaking the minds of the people of the state and therefore urged the Commission to review the polling stations in the country with a view to creating new ones in the development and upcoming sites in each town.
He promised to mobilize his subjects for the collection of PVC and ensure that peace reins supreme before, during, and after the elections.
“We have told our subjects to stay out of electoral violence. The electorate here are now more sensible as I often ask them: who will help build houses burnt during elections or revive souls of people that are killed”, the mornach .
Earlier in his address at the Palace, the REC, Mallam Madami said he was conducting tour of Local Government Area Offices in order to have an on-the-spot assessment of the offices as part of preparation for the 2019 elections.
He said he was in the palace to receive royal blessings and solicit for the support of the traditional ruler to help reach out to the electorate to collect their PVC, vote on election days and shun violence in any form,piunting out that free, fair and credible election can only be achievable in an atmosphere of peace devoid of thuggery and violence.
The REC said the Commission holds traditional institution in high esteem and sees them as vehicles to reach the generality of the electorates and politicians faster and at a very cheap rate at no cost at all. The REC was also at the palace of Elerin of Erinle, Oba Olasokun II in Oyun local government area.
In his separate speeches in all the eight Local Government Area offices he had earlier visited in the first phase of his tour, the REC charged the staff of the commission to be up and doing, dedicated, honest, disciplined and very careful of disclosing official document.
He said even though, he would be concerned with staff welfare, he would not tolerate any act of indiscipline, lateness to work and idleness; pointing out that the on-going primaries across the parties must be diligently monitored.
The Commissioner said he would organize-in-house training for the whole staffer at least two times before the elections.
This, according to him, is to make the staff perform optimally and creditably thereby making Kwara to be rated as the best state by the Commission having been able to conduct acceptable and fair election after which the losers will congratulate the winners.
The REC was accompanied in his tour by Administrative Secretary, Mr Boris Martins Chiroma and four Heads of Departments.
