Sensitive election materials have arrived in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, while the Independent National Electoral Commission says it will draw ad-hoc personnel from a pool of more than 30,000 National Youth Service Corps members.
The development comes as security agencies intensify preparations for the August 15 poll, with at least 25,310 personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission deployed across the state.
INEC Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, disclosed the planned mobilisation of NYSC members while updating The PUNCH on the commission’s preparations for the election.
Oketola said the commission would draw its ad-hoc personnel from more than 30,000 NYSC members, although he did not disclose the exact number that would eventually be engaged.
Osun has 2,339,233 registered voters, according to INEC. Oketola said he could not provide the latest figure for voters who had collected their Permanent Voter Cards following the extension of the PVC collection exercise.
He also confirmed that sensitive and non-sensitive election materials were already in the state.
According to him, sensitive materials, including ballot papers and Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices, are being kept at the Central Bank of Nigeria for security reasons.
He said non-sensitive materials would begin moving to local government areas and Registration Area Centres from Thursday, while sensitive materials would be moved from the CBN to local government offices on Friday.
Oketola explained that security agencies, electoral officers and other officials would be involved in the movement of the sensitive materials to ensure they reach the Registration Area Centres before election day.
He said the arrangement was aimed at ensuring that personnel and materials were deployed in time for polling to begin at 8.30am on Saturday.
25,310 security personnel deployed
At least 25,310 security personnel have been deployed to Osun for the election.
The figure comprises 15,000 police officers, 10,210 NSCDC personnel and about 100 EFCC officers.
The NSCDC said 10,000 personnel had been drawn from neighbouring state commands, including Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Lagos, Kwara, Edo, Kogi, Delta and the Federal Capital Territory.
Specialised units, including intelligence, tactical, female, K9 and strike teams, have also been deployed to support election security operations.
The Nigeria Police Force separately announced the deployment of 15,000 personnel, while the EFCC said about 100 officers would be deployed to tackle vote buying and other forms of electoral inducement.
Soldiers deployed to INEC office
Armed military personnel have also taken over security duties at the Osun State headquarters of INEC in Osogbo.
According to The PUNCH, soldiers arrived at the commission’s office on Sunday and increased their presence on Monday. About three Armoured Personnel Carriers were also reportedly deployed.
INEC Osun Public Relations Officer, Musa Olurode, said the commission was fully prepared for Saturday’s election.
He said 12 of the 13 activities on the election timetable had been completed, with election day being the final activity.
IPAC calls for restraint
Meanwhile, the Inter-Party Advisory Council has urged political parties and candidates to reduce political tension ahead of the election.
IPAC National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, called on political actors to avoid inflammatory statements and allow the election to focus on policies, programmes and ideas.
He also urged INEC and security agencies to remain professional, impartial and transparent while protecting voters, candidates, party agents, electoral officials and election materials.
Dantalle condemned vote buying and electoral violence and urged candidates and their supporters to resolve grievances through lawful channels.
The August 15 election is being contested by 14 political parties. Among the prominent contenders are incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress and Najeem Salam of the African Democratic Congress.
