The Independent National Electoral Commission has commenced the distribution of sensitive electoral materials across Ekiti State as preparations intensify for the June 20 governorship election, with security agencies also stepping up deployments to ensure a peaceful and credible exercise.
According to The Punch, INEC will start distributing sensitive materials to the 16 local government areas in the state as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) deployed 10,000 personnel.
The Nigeria Police Force has also activated an extensive election security framework ahead of Saturday’s poll.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi, confirmed that essential election items, including ballot papers, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines and voter registers, would be distributed across the state.
“We (INEC) have done most of the things we need to do,” Omoseyindemi said.
He added that non-sensitive materials had already been distributed and assured that the commission was fully prepared to deliver a transparent and credible election.
Supporting the logistics exercise, the Nigerian Air Force confirmed it had successfully airlifted sensitive electoral materials from Abuja to designated locations across the country.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the operation ensured timely delivery of election materials.
“Leveraging its strategic airlift capabilities, the NAF transported the sensitive electoral materials from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to designated airports in Enugu, Rivers and Kano States, ensuring that INEC received the materials within the stipulated timeline ahead of the elections,” he said.
On security arrangements, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, Sunday Abutu, said inter-agency strategies had been put in place to curb electoral violence and other threats.
“Ekiti State Police Command had put in place a centralised operational framework to coordinate rapid response and joint deployments of security personnel under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security,” Abutu stated.
Similarly, the NSCDC disclosed that 10,000 officers drawn from various states and specialised tactical units had been deployed to maintain order during the election.
Meanwhile, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, has constituted the Ekiti State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal to handle any disputes arising from the poll.
In a statewide broadcast on Wednesday, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who is seeking re-election under the All Progressives Congress, listed his administration’s achievements and appealed to voters to renew his mandate.
“As we approach the polls, I want to humbly request that you renew the Shared Prosperity Mandate you gave us four years ago by another four years,” Oyebanji said.
The governor also urged political parties, election observers and security agencies to maintain peace and act professionally throughout the electoral process.
