By Dayo Johnson

Akure—AHEAD of the 2015 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday said additional 30, 000 polling units would be created across the country, bringing the total number of polling units to 150, 000 as against the present 120, 000 units.

Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mr. Akin Orebiyi, said this in Akure while addressing a stakeholders’ forum organised by the commission on the forthcoming distribution of Permanent Voters Card, PVC, and the continuous voter’s registration exercise.

Orebiyi said the need for the new polling units arose as a result of the increase in the population of the country.

According to him, the expansion in the geographical areas occupied by people also led to the decision to create more polling units, saying this would further bring the voting centres nearer to the electorate.

Orebiyi said a committee had already been put in place at the national level for the exercise, which he said would be completed before the commencement of the 2015 general election.

The REC noted that the creation of the new polling units would ensure that no more than 300 voters were accommodated in a voting centres.

He said the distribution of PVC would take place in Ondo state between August 15 and 17, while the continuous registration exercise would take place between August 20 and 25.

Orebiyi said the commission had put necessary machinery in motion to ensure a hitch free exercise in the state and urged people of the state to take advantage of the opportunity to collect their PVC or register newly to enable them exercise their civic duty of voting during elections.