August 15, (THEWILL) — The Independent National Electoral Commission has distributed sensitive materials for Saturday’s by-election in Ogun State, pledging to ensure a free, fair and credible exercise.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ogun, Mrs Saseyi Feyijimi, on Friday supervised the movement of ballot papers and result sheets from the Abeokuta zonal office of the Central Bank of Nigeria to Remo North, Ikenne and Sagamu Local Government Areas.
The distribution was monitored by security agencies and representatives of the three political parties in the contest, Olusegun Bankole (All Progressives Congress), Afolabi Orekoya (Peoples Democratic Party) and Ayodeji Daodu (Accord Party).
Feyijimi assured journalists that the process would be transparent, noting that all 2,445 officers trained for the election had been cautioned against engaging in any malpractice.
“We are not going to defend any staff who engages in any infraction. Anybody caught will face the consequences,” she said.
The REC explained that non-sensitive materials had earlier been dispatched to the local governments, adding that the sensitive items were released in the open to guarantee transparency.
She said the commission had been engaging residents in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency to sensitise them on the process, adding that the election would run from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with those on the queue at closing time allowed to vote.
Feyijimi said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices were ready, with backups in place, stressing that INEC was committed to fairness and openness in the conduct of the poll.
Seun Shotunde, THEWILL
