The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday night began distributing sensitive electoral materials to the 30 local government areas of Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the exercise was carried out under the supervision of the Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola.
The distribution had been delayed following a Federal High Court judgment directing INEC to include the Social Democratic Party on the ballot. The SDP was subsequently added to the 14 political parties whose ballot papers had earlier been printed.
As of 11:30 p.m., buses deployed for the exercise were departing the Central Bank of Nigeria premises in Osogbo with the materials for their respective local government areas.
Speaking with journalists, the Senior Programme Manager of Kimpat Development Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, Mr Umar Mohammed, described the arrival and distribution of the materials as a positive development.
Mohammed said there had been concerns that the court ruling and the subsequent inclusion of the SDP could affect the election timetable, noting that INEC had to produce additional ballot papers and result sheets.
He said the situation had raised fears that the election could be postponed, but expressed relief that the materials had arrived and distribution had commenced.
Mohammed also commended INEC’s distribution strategy, saying the commission appeared to be giving priority to local government areas that were considered distant and difficult to access.
He, however, expressed concern that rainfall could affect the movement of the election materials, noting that dark clouds had already gathered over the area.