2027: NDC builds 13-man structure in every polling unit – Anambra lawmaker - Punch Newspapers

The National Democratic Congress says it is building a 13-man executive structure in every polling unit across Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections, as part of efforts to strengthen its grassroots presence and ensure adequate representation during voting. Senator Victor Umeh, who represents Anambra Central, disclosed this in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday, saying the structure would enable the party to produce agents for every polling unit during the election. The lawmaker said, “NDC has a structure where every polling unit, we have 13 people in that polling unit dedicated to duty. In that polling unit, on the day of election, we have in our structure what is called polling booth executives. So it’s in our constitution. “And we’re building that strength across the country. Every polling unit will have 13-man executives in that polling unit. “Is it 13 people that will not be able to produce one agent that will represent the party? Of course, the answer will be obvious to you.” Umeh said the party was also preparing separately to ensure that it had polling agents across the country. He disclosed, “We are aware of the need to have agents in every polling unit in Nigeria. And thank God, our party has become very appealing to the Nigerian public. And people have surged into the party to contest these various elections. “These candidates are the people who drive the process down to the polling units. So we are going to be present in every polling unit in Nigeria.” He said candidates contesting the elections would help drive the party’s structure down to the polling units. “The thing is very simple. If a party is present in all the constituencies in Nigeria, with candidates contesting the elections, the party will be closer to the polling units. “It will be a different case where you don’t have candidates. Where you don’t have candidates, the party will be absent in the polling units,” the lawmaker noted. Umeh said the NDC had fielded candidates for the positions being contested in the 2027 elections. He stated, “Today I’m giving you that NDC has been able to field candidates for all the positions that are being contested in the 2027 general elections. NDC not planning parallel result collation system – Chieftain 2027: Group warns against vote manipulation I’ll take politicians’ money if they’re good – Esther Nwachukwu “So it trickles down to the presence of the party, down to the polling units. Because when you have candidates, they mobilise agents. “When you don’t have candidates, you will be empty in those places.” He added that he was personally establishing another layer of coordinators in each polling unit. “We, for example, are the candidates in the election. Apart from the 13-man polling-unit executives the party has in its constitution, I, as a candidate, am also building a 20-man coordinator in every polling unit. “So that if you ask me to raise polling agents, we won’t be scampering for who will represent the party,” he stated. Umeh said the party was preparing early to ensure that its agents would have access to polling-unit results on election day. He said, “As a senator, I was part of the Electoral Act amendment process. And I remember the controversy we had about transmission of results in real time by making sure that transmission is done electronically through a portal. “We were the people that voted for it, even though there was an amendment to it. “That amendment has put the party on notice that we must have agents at every polling unit to get the EC8A series on every polling unit on the day of election.” He said the party wanted to have copies of polling-unit results signed by presiding officers. Umeh said, “So we have been preparing ahead, knowing that at the end of it, result popularly, we must be able to be in possession of the polling-unit results signed by the presiding officers. “So we have enough time to prepare for this, and we are doing it. “So be assured that on the day of election, you won’t find any polling unit unmarked by agents of the NDC.” Tosin Oyediran Tosin Oyediran is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over eight years of professional experience in reporting and storytelling. He is known for conducting incisive interviews and producing compelling human-angle stories that bring clarity and depth to the news. Tosin covers a broad range of beats including politics, health, advocacy, sports, and entertainment, with a strong focus on people-centred reporting. His work reflects firsthand newsroom experience, editorial insight, and a commitment to accurate, engaging, and trustworthy journalism.

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