The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of sensitive election materials for the Ondo South Senatorial District bye-election scheduled for Saturday, assuring stakeholders of its readiness to conduct a credible and transparent poll.
The exercise, carried out under the supervision of electoral officials, security agencies and representatives of participating political parties, involved the deployment of ballot papers, result sheets and other sensitive materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Akure.
Speaking during the distribution exercise on Wednesday, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo State, Mutiu Agboke, said all logistical arrangements for the smooth conduct of the election had been concluded.
Agboke disclosed that non-sensitive materials had earlier been distributed, while sensitive materials were being released in the presence of party agents and security personnel to ensure transparency.
He added that all Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines designated for the election had been tested and certified, with backup devices available to address any technical challenges that may arise.
According to the REC, a total of 673,446 registered voters are expected to participate in the bye-election across 1,354 polling units and 66 registration areas in Okitipupa, Irele, Ilaje, Ese-Odo, Odigbo and Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo local government areas.
The bye-election is being held to fill the vacant Ondo South Senatorial seat following the appointment of former senator Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations by President Bola Tinubu.
Agboke noted that only four political parties—the All Progressives Congress (APC), Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), Action Peoples Party (APP) and Boot Party (BP) would participate in the election.
He urged political parties and other stakeholders to uphold transparency and ensure a peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the election, warning against vote-buying, intimidation and violence.
”Nothing will determine the winner of the election other than the votes of the people. Anyone engaging in vote-buying, violence or harassment of electoral officials is not promoting transparency,” he said, assuring that INEC staff had been adequately trained to ensure that every valid vote counts.
Also speaking, the Ondo State Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Alex Adeniyi, expressed confidence in INEC’s preparedness, saying the commission had demonstrated commitment to conducting a free and fair election.
