The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed the arrival of sensitive election materials in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, as preparations intensify for the August 15 poll. The commission also disclosed that it will recruit ad-hoc personnel from a pool of more than 30,000 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, while over 25,000 security personnel are expected to be deployed across the state to ensure a peaceful and credible election.

Muslim Scholars, Imams Endorse APC’s Oyebamiji Ahead Of Osun Governorship Election

INEC Chairman’s Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, disclosed the preparations in an interview with Punch on Monday. He said Osun has 2,339,233 registered voters eligible to participate in the election, although the commission was yet to compile the final number of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected following the extension of the PVC collection exercise. Oketola confirmed that both sensitive and non-sensitive election materials had arrived in the state but declined to reveal when the sensitive materials were delivered, citing security concerns.

He explained that ballot papers and Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices are being secured at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and will be distributed to local government offices on Friday in the presence of political party representatives, security agencies and electoral officials.

According to INEC, Registration Area Centres (RACs) will become operational on Friday to position election personnel and materials closer to polling units ahead of Election Day. Oketola said non-sensitive materials would begin moving on Thursday, while sensitive materials would be distributed from the CBN on Friday alongside security personnel and ad-hoc staff. He added that generators, water tanks, vehicles and other logistics were also being deployed to ensure polling units open by 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Defending the commission’s decision to keep details of the movement of sensitive materials confidential, Oketola said disclosing such information could expose the materials to security threats, stressing that the most important fact is that all critical election materials are already in Osun and safely secured.