The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says sensitive election materials are already in Osun State ahead governorship election, as security agencies deploy more than 25,000 personnel across the state.
INEC also says it will draw ad-hoc election officials from a pool of more than 30,000 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members for the poll.
The commission’s Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, disclosed this while updating journalists on preparations for the election.
“For 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,” he said.
According to INEC, 2,339,233 voters are registered in Osun, although the commission could not provide the latest figure for voters who collected their Permanent Voter Cards after the extension of the collection exercise.
Oketola said the sensitive materials, including ballot papers and Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, were being kept at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for security reasons.
“Right now, sensitive materials are already in Osun. Nobody will tell you when materials arrived Osun. What is most important is that they have arrived,” he said.
He explained that the materials would be moved from the CBN to local government offices before being distributed to Registration Area Centres (RACs).
He said the movement would involve security agencies, electoral officials, ad-hoc personnel and vehicles required for election-day deployment.
“This is to ensure that we are able to deploy men and materials on Election Day and then polling gap opens,” Oketola said.
Over 25,000 security personnel deployed
Security agencies have deployed at least 25,310 personnel to Osun for the election.
The deployment includes 15,000 police officers, 10,210 Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel and about 100 Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officers.
The NSCDC said 10,000 personnel had been drawn from 10 neighbouring state commands to reinforce its existing personnel in Osun’s 30 local government areas.
The corps said specialised units, including intelligence, tactical, female, K9 and strike teams, would support operations during the election.
NSCDC Commandant-General Abubakar Audi ordered the personnel to remain professional and neutral while protecting voters, electoral officials and election materials.
“Our personnel have been properly briefed on the need to be professional, neutral and respectful in the discharge of their duties,” he said.
He also warned political thugs and others planning to disrupt the election that they would face the law.
“The NSCDC in collaboration with other security agencies on election duty will not tolerate any activity intended to jeopardise the election process,” Audi said.
The police had earlier announced the deployment of 15,000 personnel, while the EFCC said about 100 officers would be deployed to prevent vote buying and other forms of electoral inducement.
“Yes, we will be deploying officers to the state. About 100 of them will be on the ground to ensure that there is no inducement,” an EFCC source said.
Soldiers secure Osun INEC headquarters
Armed military personnel have also taken up security duties at the Osun INEC headquarters in Osogbo.
Soldiers and about three Armoured Personnel Carriers have reportedly been deployed around the commission’s premises, alongside police and NSCDC operatives.
A security source said the soldiers arrived and had assumed security duties at the facility.
Osun INEC spokesman Musa Olurode said the commission was fully prepared for Saturday’s poll.
“We are fully ready for the election,” he said.
He added that INEC had completed 12 of the 13 activities on its election timetable, with only election day remaining.
IPAC urges calm
The Inter-Party Advisory Council has urged INEC, security agencies, political parties and candidates to ensure a peaceful and credible election.
IPAC National Chairman Yusuf Dantalle called on political actors to tone down inflammatory rhetoric amid rising tension in the state.
“We urge all political actors to lower the temperature of political rhetoric and refrain from statements, threats, actions or counter-actions capable of aggravating tension,” he said.
Dantalle urged INEC to act independently and transparently while ensuring equal treatment of all candidates and parties.
He also warned security agencies against intimidating voters or suppressing legitimate political activities.
“Democracy is not simply about who wins an election; it is about ensuring that the process through which the winner emerges is credible, transparent, legitimate and reflective of the will of the people,” he said.
Fourteen political parties are contesting the governorship election, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji and ADC candidate Najeem Salam among the prominent contenders.
