The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of sensitive election materials to the 30 local government areas of Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
The distribution began on Thursday night under the supervision of the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola.
The exercise was initially delayed following a Federal High Court judgment directing INEC to include the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on the ballot for the election.
Following the court order, INEC added the SDP to the list of 14 political parties contesting the election and printed additional ballot papers and result sheets.
As of 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, buses deployed for the exercise were leaving the Central Bank of Nigeria premises in Osogbo with election materials for their designated local government areas.
The distribution comes amid heightened political tension and concerns over alleged attacks and killings linked to the election.
15,000 police, over 10,000 NSCDC personnel deployed.
Ahead of the election, security agencies have stepped up preparations, with about 15,000 police officers deployed across Osun State to provide security during the governorship poll.
More than 10,000 personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have also been deployed to complement the police and other security agencies.
The deployment is expected to strengthen security around polling units, collation centres, INEC offices and other critical locations across the state.
The security presence is particularly significant amid reports of attacks and allegations of killings involving supporters of some political parties in the build-up to the election.
Political parties raise concerns over attacks.
Political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Accord Party, have raised allegations of attacks on their members ahead of the election.
The allegations have heightened concerns among stakeholders over the safety of voters, political party supporters, journalists, election officials and other participants in Saturday’s poll.
Fadahunsi controversy sparks reaction.
The political tension was further heightened following comments attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District on the platform of the APC.
In a video that went viral days before the election, Fadahunsi was heard making comments interpreted as a call for APC supporters to retaliate against attacks and target members of the Accord Party.
The senator later denied calling for violence, explaining that his statement was intended to encourage APC supporters to defeat their political opponents with their votes rather than through physical confrontation.
Following the controversy, the Osun State Police Command invited Fadahunsi for questioning over the alleged comments.
The incident has added to concerns about the security situation in the state as political parties intensify their activities ahead of Saturday’s election.
INEC faces logistical pressure.
The inclusion of the SDP on the ballot following the court judgment created additional logistical demands for INEC, as the commission had to produce additional ballot papers and result sheets.
Despite the delay, the commission has commenced the movement of sensitive materials to the state’s 30 local government areas.
The Osun governorship election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, with INEC expected to complete the distribution of materials to polling units before voting begins.
With thousands of security personnel deployed across the state, authorities are expected to maintain law and order and ensure that voters, election officials, journalists and political party agents can participate safely in the electoral process.
The election will determine the governor who will lead Osun State for the next four years.
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