The INEC said on Monday in Katsina that it had concluded arrangements to remove polling units from private establishments and residential buildings in Katsina State.
Alhaji Abubakar Wara, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), said this at a special stakeholders meeting.
‘’The commission decided to take the decision in line with the best international practice that private buildings or residents should not be used for the conduct of election,’’ he said.
He decried the current situation whereby elections were conducted in both public and private buildings, residence and open spaces.
The commissioner said that the commission had decided that elections be conducted openly in public buildings, to conform with the international best practice and ensure neutrality,
Wara said that the commission had begun gradual process of relocating the polling units from private residence to public buildings in the state.
He said the commission was compelled to take the decision, to provide atmosphere conducive for election, especially ahead of the 2015 general elections.
Wara said the commission, in collaboration with the office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation, had produced a map showing location of new communities not catered for by polling units.
He said that the commission had created 1,173 new polling units in the state, to cater for such communities.
The commissioner said that the state now had 6,075 polling units from the previous figure of 4,902 polling centres.
He said that INEC would soon start distributing Permanent Voter Cards and urged youths that had attained 18 years to register for the 2015 general elections.