INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to relocate 16 Registration Area Centres (RAC’s) in three local government areas facing security challenges in Yobe State.

Alhaji Goni Usman, the Head of Operations of the Commission, stated this at a stakeholders’ meeting in Damaturu, on Tuesday.

Usman said the RAC’s and their collation centres in Geidam, Yunusari and Gujba local government areas would be moved to safe areas.He, however, said the Commission would shelve the plan if security situation in the areas improve before the 2023 general election.

The official said 1,109 voting points had been converted to polling units, bringing the total number of polling units in the state to 2,823.

In a remark, Alhaji Lamido Ibrahim, Head of ICT Department, said a total of 93,912 old and new PVC’s were collected by the Commission from 2019 to 2022.

He said 49,399 were distributed, while a balance of 44,513 remained unclaimed.

Ibrahim called on eligible voters who did not collect their PVC’s to do so immediately to exercise their franchise.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Haruna Garba, reiterated a call to political parties to submit their campaign itinerary to police for provision of protection.

He said the police had been identifying flashpoints and trouble makers to dislodge them before the election.

Garba charged the stakeholders to educate their members on the need to obey the law and shun violence before, during and after the election.

solace