Sensitive election materials have arrived in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, as security agencies intensify preparations for the August 15 poll amid heightened political tension.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said the materials, including ballot papers and Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, are being kept at the Central Bank of Nigeria for security reasons. The commission said movement to local government areas and Registration Area Centres will take place according to its election logistics plan.
INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, said the commission would draw ad-hoc election personnel from a pool of more than 30,000 National Youth Service Corps members. He said 2,339,233 voters are registered in Osun, although the latest number of collected Permanent Voter Cards was not immediately available following an extension of the collection exercise.
The commission said non-sensitive materials would begin moving on Thursday, while sensitive materials would be transported from the CBN to local government offices on Friday. Registration Area Centres are expected to open thereafter, with electoral officials, ad-hoc staff, security personnel and vehicles positioned ahead of polling, which is scheduled to begin at 8:30am on Saturday.
Security preparations have also been stepped up, with 25,310 personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission expected to participate in the operation. The figure includes 15,000 police officers, 10,210 NSCDC personnel and about 100 EFCC officers tasked, among other duties, with tackling vote buying and electoral inducement.
The NSCDC has deployed 10,000 personnel from neighbouring commands to reinforce its existing presence across Osun’s 30 local government areas. Specialised units, including intelligence, tactical, female, K9 and strike teams, will also support the operation, while the police have deployed personnel to polling units and other strategic locations.
Military personnel have meanwhile taken over security duties at the Osun INEC headquarters in Osogbo. Armed soldiers and three Armoured Personnel Carriers were seen around the facility, with police and NSCDC personnel expected to reinforce the deployment. INEC’s Osun spokesman, Musa Olurode, said the commission had completed 12 of the 13 activities on its election timetable and was ready for Saturday’s poll.
The Inter-Party Advisory Council has urged political parties and candidates to lower the temperature ahead of the election, while calling on INEC and security agencies to remain impartial. IPAC National Chairman Yusuf Dantalle also urged voters and political actors to reject violence, vote buying and intimidation, saying the credibility of the election would depend not only on who wins but on whether the process reflects the will of the electorate.
