morganABLE politics/elections
Oketola disclosed that both sensitive and non-sensitive election materials were already in the state, noting that distribution to local government areas and Registration Area Centres (RACs) would commence on Thursday .
KaNo —
Sensitive election materials have arrived in Osogbo ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ramps up preparations for the crucial poll, drawing from a pool of more than 30,000 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as ad-hoc staff.
The development comes amid a heavy security deployment across the state, with no fewer than 25,310 personnel mobilised by agencies including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure a peaceful electoral process.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, confirmed the arrival of the sensitive materials in a conversation with Punch on Monday, stating that while the exact number of ad-hoc personnel could not yet be disclosed, the commission would draw heavily from NYSC members deployed across the state.
“For the number of ad-hoc staff, INEC will be pulling from a pool of over 30,000 NYSC members that we’re working with for the election,” Oketola said.
2,339,233 Voters Registered In Osun
He added that Osun State currently has 2,339,233 registered voters, although the commission is yet to confirm the updated number of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected following the recent extension of the collection exercise.
“Meanwhile, 2,339,233 voters are registered in Osun. We extended PVC collection, so I don’t have the latest data on the number collected, but these are the eligible voters,” he stated.
Oketola disclosed that both sensitive and non-sensitive election materials were already in the state, noting that distribution to local government areas and Registration Area Centres (RACs) would commence on Thursday .
However, he declined to reveal the specific date the sensitive materials arrived, citing security concerns.
“Right now, sensitive materials are already in Osun. Nobody will tell you when materials arrived. What is most important is that they have arrived. Logistics is complex,” he said.
He explained that the materials would be transported under tight security from the CBN to local government offices on Friday, where electoral officers, security agencies, and other stakeholders would oversee their distribution.
“The police, security agents, and electoral officers will be invited to the CBN where sensitive materials such as ballot papers and BVAS will be distributed and moved to the local government offices,” he said.
“By Friday, RAC centres will open. Sensitive materials will be moved to the RACs alongside non-sensitive materials, ad hoc staff, and security personnel. Vehicles for election day operations will also be deployed,” Oketola explained.
Logistics Plan Designed To Ensure Prompt Commencement
The INEC spokesperson stressed that the logistics plan was designed to ensure early deployment of personnel and materials, enabling polling units to open by 8:30 a.m. on election day.
He also noted that the commission had made provisions for additional equipment such as generators and water tanks to support electoral operations across the state.
“We are deploying generators in their numbers, water tanks, and other materials. These things cannot get to Osun on the same day, which is why the process is staggered,” he added.
“If we tell the public when and where materials will be moved, they can be ambushed. What is most important is that they are already in Osun and secured,” he said.
Meanwhile, security agencies have intensified preparations for the election, deploying a combined total of 25,310 personnel across the state.
235,310 Security Personnel Deployed
The police have deployed 15,000 officers, while the NSCDC has committed 10,210 personnel. The EFCC is also deploying about 100 officers to monitor and prevent vote-buying and other financial crimes during the election.
The large-scale deployment underscores the high stakes of the poll, which will see 14 political parties contest for the governorship seat.
In a further boost to security efforts, the NSCDC Commandant-General, Abubakar Audi, has ordered the deployment of 10,000 additional personnel from neighbouring states.
NSCDC spokesman Afolabi Babawale said the deployment would complement existing personnel in Osun and ensure coverage of all 30 local government areas, including polling units and critical infrastructure.
He added that specialised units such as the Commandant-General’s Special Intelligence Squad, Special Weapons and Tactics Unit, Specialised Female Squad, Mining Marshals, Special Strike Force, Crack Squad, and K9 Unit had also been mobilised.
According to him, these units would handle intelligence gathering, crime prevention, crowd control, and the protection of electoral materials and personnel.
Babawale further disclosed that the NSCDC Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Operations, Ayuba Phillip, along with other senior officers, would relocate to Osun to oversee the security operations.
Audi, in his directive, charged personnel to maintain professionalism, neutrality, and respect for citizens’ rights throughout the election period.
“As an agency saddled with the responsibility of protecting critical infrastructure and national assets, the safety and security of election materials and electoral officials are very critical alongside the electorates,” he said.
With INEC finalising logistics and security agencies intensifying their presence, stakeholders say the coming days will be critical in determining the credibility and peaceful conduct of the Osun governorship election.
