In preparation for the November 16 Ondo governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission announced on Thursday that sensitive election materials will be delivered to Akure by Tuesday, November 12.
Speaking at a pre-election stakeholders’ meeting in Akure, INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu confirmed that sensitive materials, such as ballot papers and result sheets, would be sent to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Akure branch early next week.
Yakubu assured that representatives of political parties and other stakeholders would have the opportunity to inspect the materials, enhancing transparency before they are distributed to local government areas and wards across Ondo State.
Yakubu emphasized INEC’s commitment to a credible and well-organized election, noting that all necessary logistical arrangements for the safe delivery and distribution of materials have been completed.
“We have arranged for the delivery of sensitive materials for the election to arrive as early as Tuesday next week,” Yakubu said. “We will invite political parties and other stakeholders for the usual inspection of the materials at the Central Bank here in Akure, and throughout the movement of sensitive materials to the local governments and the ward centres.”
To ensure timely and efficient deployment, INEC has organized both land and maritime transportation to access all areas of Ondo State, aiming to reach all polling units.
“We have made arrangements for land and maritime transportation of personnel and materials,” he stated.
In collaboration with security agencies, INEC has put measures in place to protect both sensitive materials and personnel involved in the electoral process.
As election day approaches, INEC has been making final preparations, which include conducting a mock accreditation using its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System in selected locations across the state. Yakubu reiterated that INEC is fully prepared to conduct a secure, fair, and transparent election.