INEC distributes sensitive polls materials across Ondo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday began distributing sensitive election materials to all 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Ondo State, ahead of the governorship election scheduled for November 16.

The exercise, held at the Central Bank of Nigeria branch in Akure, was supervised by the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Oluwatoyin Babalola. Representatives from political parties and security agencies including the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Immigration, Customs, and the Department of State Services (DSS)—were present to monitor the process.

According to Babalola, the early distribution demonstrates INEC’s preparedness to conduct a transparent, free, and fair election. She remarked, “We promise that the commission will be transparent in the conduct of the election. You can see that the distribution exercise is going on very smoothly.”

She added, “The farthest local governments have started moving to their locations. All the other local governments have received their materials; they are checking and loading the vehicles. I’m sure that in another one and a half hours, we should be out of it. You can see the logistics we are distributing today, and the vehicles are already moving.”

Babalola confirmed that logistics were on track, noting, “Ilaje has left, Ese-Odo has left, and Okitipupa and Irele are loading. They will soon leave. Then we move to the next set: Akoko North-East, North-West, Akoko South-West, South-East, Owo, and Ose; they have collected all their materials, and they will leave any moment from now. Then Odigbo, Ondo-East, Ondo-West, Ifedore, and Axis are leaving. We are on course. We are moving. The movement is not local government by local government. We are doing simultaneous movement.”

Highlighting the arrangements made for challenging terrains, especially in riverine areas like Ilaje and Ese-Odo, Babalola stated, “We also have the support of the Navy. They are giving us gunboats to secure the movement.”

She added, “For the land where we have difficult terrain, we will move out to the place where vehicles can reach, and we will continue the rest with suitable means of transportation.”

Babalola also appealed to political parties and their supporters to avoid violence, urging them to uphold peace throughout the election process.