Osun Election: INEC Begins Distribution of Sensitive Materials

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has commenced the distribution of sensitive electoral materials to the 30 local government areas of Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

INEC National Commissioner overseeing the Osun election, Kunle Ajayi, disclosed this on Friday, saying the exercise was taking place at the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, facility in Osogbo, the state capital.

Ajayi explained that the distribution was delayed because newly printed ballot papers and other election materials arrived late from Abuja. The delay followed the recent addition of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, to the list of parties participating in the election.

The commission had on Wednesday added the SDP candidate, Francis Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Oladipo, to the ballot. Their inclusion increased the number of political parties contesting the August 15 election to 15.

Following the development, INEC had to reproduce the ballot papers to include the SDP candidate and also reprint the result sheets for the election.

The commission said the materials were being distributed as soon as they became available to ensure they reached their designated locations before voting begins on Saturday.

The distribution is expected to cover all 30 local government areas, with the sensitive materials being moved from the CBN facility to the appropriate locations as part of the commission’s final preparations for the poll.

INEC had earlier assured stakeholders that the election would proceed as scheduled despite the changes to the ballot and the resulting need to reproduce some of the electoral materials.

The Osun governorship election is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 15, with voters across the state expected to choose their next governor from the candidates of the participating political parties.