It is a very good thing that the materials arrived today. Hopefully, by the time INEC finishes sorting, they will distribute them to all the local governments
By Moses Okorie
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the deployment of sensitive electoral materials to the 30 local government areas of Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
The distribution began late Thursday at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) facility in Osogbo and was carried out under the supervision of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola.
The exercise followed a delay triggered by a Federal High Court judgment directing INEC to recognise the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and include it on the ballot for the election.
Consequently, INEC had to produce additional ballot papers and result sheets for the SDP after materials for the 14 parties previously cleared for the election had already been printed.
As of 11:30 p.m., buses loaded with the sensitive materials were departing the CBN premises for different local government areas across the state.
Umar Mohammed, Senior Programme Manager of the Kimpat Development Initiative, described the arrival and deployment of the materials as a positive development.
“It is a very good thing that the materials arrived today. Hopefully, by the time INEC finishes sorting, they will distribute them to all the local governments,” Mohammed told journalists.
He said the court ruling had raised fears that the logistical implications of adding another political party could affect the election schedule.
“We were worried after the court pronouncement, which led to the addition of SDP to the ballot. This created a logistical challenge for INEC.
“We felt it could affect the election and probably lead to a call for postponement, but it is good that the materials have arrived,” he said.
Mohammed commended INEC for its deployment arrangements, noting that the commission appeared to be prioritising areas regarded as relatively remote and difficult to reach.
He, however, raised concerns about the weather, saying heavy rainfall could complicate the movement of sensitive electoral materials to their destinations.
“I pray it does not rain because the dark clouds are already gathering. Rainfall could make the distribution of election materials difficult,” he said.
The commencement of the deployment is expected to pave the way for the final preparations for Saturday’s governorship election across the state.