Maha Christopher
With two days to the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State, the Independent National Electoral Commission has commenced the movement of sensitive election materials, while security agencies have intensified preparations to ensure a peaceful and credible poll.
According to The Punch, INEC will begin distributing sensitive materials to the state’s 16 local government areas, as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps deployed 10,000 personnel and the Nigeria Police Force activated an extensive election security framework ahead of Saturday’s election.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi, confirmed that 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 the commission had already distributed non-sensitive materials and was fully prepared to conduct a transparent and credible election.
To support the exercise, the Nigerian Air Force confirmed the successful airlift of sensitive electoral materials from Abuja to designated locations.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the operation was carried out to ensure the 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 security agencies had mapped out strategies to tackle political violence, thuggery, cult-related activities 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.
The NSCDC also announced the deployment of 10,000 officers drawn from several states and specialised tactical units to provide adequate security 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 election.
In a statewide broadcast on Wednesday, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, highlighted the achievements of his administration and appealed to residents 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 conduct themselves peacefully and professionally throughout the election process.
